A review of the utility and cost effectiveness of monitoring fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in asthma management

The review evaluated the cost effectiveness of FeNO monitoring in an asthma setting. Topics covered included diagnosis, steroid responsiveness and dosing of inhaled corticosteroids, monitoring of FeNO for asthma control (including reducing asthma exacerbations), and medication adherence. The authors concluded that "[a]dding FeNO to the diagnostic armamentarium provides a unique measure of airway inflammation that complements pulmonary function assessments in a cost-effective manner", adding that "incorporating FeNO into asthma management helps to identify patients at risk for future exacerbations and is associated with substantial cost savings in those patients".