Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving and asthma: Where are we in 2023?

Asthma is a risk factor for an adverse event while diving utilizing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCUBA). There are various consensus-based recommendations suggesting criteria to evaluate a person with asthma and allow safe SCUBA diving. A systematic review of the medical literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was published in 2016 and concluded there is limited evidence, but subjects with asthma are likely at increased risk of adverse if events if participating in SCUBA. This previous review also included there are insufficient data to inform the decision for a specific patient with asthma to dive. The search strategy used in 2016 was repeated in 2022 and is reported in this article. The conclusions are the same. Suggestions for the clinician are provided to assist in the shared decision-making discussion related to an asthma patient's request to participate in recreational SCUBA diving.