American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

In moderate persistent asthma, how often do patients typically experience nighttime awakenings?

1. Less than 1 time per week

2. 1-2 times per week

3. 3-4 times per month

4. More than once weekly but not nightly

The correct answer is: More than once weekly but not nightly

In moderate persistent asthma, patients typically experience nighttime awakenings more than once weekly but not nightly. This classification of asthma severity means that nighttime symptoms are frequent enough to disrupt sleep but do not occur every night. According to the criteria for asthma severity, moderate persistent asthma is characterized by daily symptoms and the need for a daily controller medication. The occurrence of nighttime symptoms varies, but it generally falls within this range of 1 to several times a week, providing a clear distinction from mild persistent asthma, where nighttime awakenings are less frequent, typically occurring less than once a week. Understanding this classification is crucial for managing asthma effectively and helps guide appropriate treatment options to minimize symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients. This framework for assessing severity assists healthcare providers in selecting the right inhalation therapies and other management strategies tailored to an individual diagnosis.