IntroductionAsthma is a common chronic respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airflow limitation, and airway remodeling. Mild asthma is the most common type of asthma, but it is the most neglected. Sometimes mild asthma can lead to acute severe exacerbations or even death.Areas coveredThis article reviews the epidemiology, risk factors, and possible predictors of acute severe exacerbations and disease progression in mild asthma to improve the understanding of mild asthma and its severe acute exacerbations and progression.Expert opinionThere is a necessity to improve asthma patient categorization and redefine mild asthma's concept to heighten patient and physician attention. Identifying mild asthma patients that are highly vulnerable to severe acute exacerbations and researching the mechanisms are future prioritizations.