The elderly are prescribed much more medication than other age groups. Chronic disease is frequent, however, inappropriate initiation of drugs and failure to re-assess patients prior to repeat prescriptions is also felt to be important. Sixteen percent of over 65 year olds are prescribed inhaled anti-asthma therapy and little is known about the reasons for prescribing the quality of diagnostic testing and the long term "after care" in primary care. The group has carried out preliminary work that suggests that there may be significant deficiencies in the primary care chronic disease management of asthma in older people. Within a much larger population sample, across 21 general practices covering a wide socio-economic catchment area, this study will investigate the diagnosis and long term care of the asthma in older people. Information from this research will be used to inform changes in primary care services in order to optimise asthma care in older people.