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Expert says nearly two people die of asthma each week in Ireland

New report launched reveals the social, personal, health and economic burden of severe asthma.

(Photo L-R) (Dr Pat Manning, Dr Jean Holohan & Loretto Callaghan, Novartis)

19th June 2007: Severe Asthma in Ireland and Europe, a Patient's Perspective, has revealed that Ireland lags behind its European counterparts.  61% (1) of severe asthma patients in Ireland have their sleep disturbed a number of times a week, compared to 24% of people in Europe (2). 19% (1) of severe asthma patients in Ireland say their asthma cost them a promotion, compared to 9% (2) in Europe. A further 33% (1) say it has cost them job opportunities in the Irish workplace. Severe Asthma in Ireland and Europe, a Patient's Perspective was launched today to raise awareness of the unmet needs of patients with severe asthma in Ireland. 

Dr Pat Manning speaking Severe Asthma Report Launch

Speaking at the launch of the report, Dr Pat Manning, Respiratory Physician and Chairperson, Severe Asthma Advisory Group said "Approximately 6,300 (3) people in Ireland suffer from severe asthma and 80 to 100 people (3) die each year in Ireland due to asthma. Severe asthma is a debilitating condition which causes frequent emergency treatment, hospital admissions, breathlessness and speech limiting attacks. This report highlights the social, personal, health and economicburden of severe asthma in Ireland."

Almost one in three people (29%) (1) in Ireland with severe asthma reported restrictions in their daily lives due to the severity of their condition and the three most common things severe asthma patients cited as missing out on are physical activity (81%), going out with friends (62%) and being able to keep pets (57%) (1). The three most commonly used words to describe severe asthma are breathlessness, suffocation and fear (2).

"Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma (3) in the world and it is estimated that over 470,000 (3) people in Ireland have asthma, said Dr Jean Holohan, CEO, Asthma Society of Ireland. "For some, the condition is relatively mild, but for the small sub group that experience severe asthma, it has a huge impact on their daily lives and they live in fear they may die.  A person who believes they are experiencing asthma should see their doctor because the key to living with asthma is to ensure it is controlled, rather than it controlling you," she continued.

33% (1) of people in Ireland with severe asthma suffer from speech limiting attacks on a monthly basis compared to 19% (2) of people in Europe. Furthermore the prevalence of asthma attacks in Ireland is almost three times the level reported in Germany, Austria and Spain (2). Despite this, 57% of severe asthma patients in Ireland are optimistic about the future and think asthma will be managed better by the HSE in the next five years (1).

Geraldine Clarke at Severe Asthma Launch

The economic burden of asthma in Ireland is substantial. In 2003 the total cost to the state was €463 million and emergency care and hospitalisation accounted for €227 million (49%) of this (4). 25,000 Accident and Emergency visits annually are asthma related and between 6,000 and 7,000 people are hospitalised with asthma related illnesses (3).

The World Health Organisation estimates that 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma and asthma deaths will increase by almost 20% in the next 10 years if urgent action is not taken (5). 

For further information log on to www.breathing.ie or contact the Asthma Society of Ireland, 26 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, Telephone: 01 -8788511. Website: www.asthmasociety.ie or email office@asthmasociety.ie

References

1. Severe Asthma in Ireland - a patient perspective. Quality of Life Survey on Severe Asthma patients in 2007. Available at www.breathing.ie.
2. Fighting for Breath - A European patient perspective on Severe Asthma. Available on European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations website www.efanet.org/activities/documents/Fighting_For_Breath1.pdf
3. Asthma Society of Ireland - www.asthmasociety.ie
4. Irish Medical Journal (IMJ) 2003; 96 (5)

WHO website - www.who.int

For further information log on to www.breathing.ie

Click to download the Severa Asthma Report

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