Survey highlights lack of asthma care
06 March 2007

The largest ever survey into severe asthma has revealed the potentially catastrophic impact of the condition on the lives of people across Europe.

The report, entitled ‘The Limitations of Severe Asthma: the Results of a European Survey’ was commissioned by The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA) and published in the scientific journal, Allergy.

It highlights that 90% of the 6 million people in Europe with severe asthma are not receiving optimum care, leading 1.5 million of them to live in ‘constant fear’ that their next attack could be fatal.

Participants in the survey were asked what it means to live with severe asthma. Almost 70% said they were unable to take part in physical activity because of their asthma, while one in five also experienced speech-limiting attacks at least once a week, leaving them unable to draw enough breath even to ask for help.

Professor Martyn Partridge, Asthma UK’s Chief Medical Advisor, co-authored the report. He said: ‘The shocking irony of these findings is that severe asthma can be successfully managed if asthma guidelines are followed effectively. Yet, according to this study, most people with severe asthma in Europe are failing to receive adequate standards of care that reach recommended international GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) treatment targets’

The report was unveiled at a briefing in Brussels, at which Asthma UK joined EFA and other European asthma organisations to call for improved asthma care across the continent.

Asthma UK’s Chief Executive, Donna Covey, said: ‘We must continue to increase public awareness, improve patient education and provide better access to appropriate healthcare for all people with asthma to ensure that a consistent level of care is provided for all and to prevent needless deaths.

‘EFA’s collaborative work sets out an achievable vision of control over asthma, through the delivery of excellent care, investment into research and implementation of policies that reflect the right to breathe clean air. This vision must now be backed up by positive government action across Europe.

‘It is the right of every person with asthma across the continent to expect high-quality care that truly meets their needs. Asthma UK’s Asthma Charter was developed exactly for this purpose and aims to help patients in the UK, as well as healthcare professionals, recognise the high-quality treatment and support that they are entitled to receive.’