A 60-year-old patient has well-controlled hypertension and obesity with no functional limitations. Which ASA class applies?

A 60-year-old patient has well-controlled hypertension and obesity with no functional limitations. Which ASA class applies?

• A. ASA I
• B. ASA II
• C. ASA III
• D. ASA IV

Answer: (B)

ASA physical status classification evaluates systemic disease burden and functional status to gauge perioperative risk. A normal healthy patient is ASA I; a patient with mild systemic disease but no functional limitations is ASA II; ASA III is severe systemic disease with functional limitations; ASA IV is severe disease that constantly threatens life. Here, the patient has well-controlled hypertension and obesity but no functional limitations. These are mild systemic conditions without limiting daily activities, which fits ASA II. Age by itself doesn’t change the class, and obesity qualifies as a systemic condition, but when controlled and asymptomatic, it remains ASA II.

ASA physical status classification evaluates systemic disease burden and functional status to gauge perioperative risk. A normal healthy patient is ASA I; a patient with mild systemic disease but no functional limitations is ASA II; ASA III is severe systemic disease with functional limitations; ASA IV is severe disease that constantly threatens life.

Here, the patient has well-controlled hypertension and obesity but no functional limitations. These are mild systemic conditions without limiting daily activities, which fits ASA II. Age by itself doesn’t change the class, and obesity qualifies as a systemic condition, but when controlled and asymptomatic, it remains ASA II.