Survey Press Release
NATIONAL SURVEY CONFIRMS ASTHMA AWARENESS 'GAP'
Asthma Patients Need More Education Regarding Control
Washington, D.C. — Findings from an extensive national survey assessing awareness and attitudes toward asthma show a concerning difference between how well patients feel they have the disease under control and the impact asthma actually has on their daily life. The Asthma G.A.P. in America: General Awareness and Perceptions found that two-thirds of asthma patients surveyed report that they have their condition under control; however, over half report that they experience symptoms (such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and/or phlegm production) at least once a week. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) collaborated with AstraZeneca to serve as a presenting sponsor of the survey data. Detailed survey findings can be found at www.asthmagap.com.
“There is a large disconnect between what asthma patients are saying and how they are actually affected by their asthma every day, which calls for better education on how to properly control the disease,” said Mike Tringale, Director of External Affairs, AAFA.
The routine management of asthma in those with the disease was also studied. Despite the fact that many asthma patients surveyed feel they have their asthma under control, they use rescue medication regularly. In fact, one in three report that in the past four weeks they had to use a rescue inhaler at least once a day.
"Using a rescue medication regularly is a sign that asthma is not properly controlled and you may be unnecessarily ailing from the disease. According to NAEPP (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program) respiratory guidelines, asthma patients should ideally use their rescue inhaler no more than twice a week," said William E. Berger, MD, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of California, Irvine. "Patients should talk to their doctor to evaluate their treatment regimen and find out if maintenance therapies are right for them."
Asthma is one of the most serious chronic diseases in the United States. It is estimated that 20 million Americans have asthma, and despite the availability of treatments, it remains poorly controlled. The annual direct healthcare cost of asthma is approximately $10 billion; indirect costs (e.g., lost productivity) account for another $8 billion, for a total of $18 billion.
Asthma needs to be managed with controller medications - not just treated with a rescue medication when it gets out of control. A controller, or maintenance, medicine helps control inflammation and prevents the airways from reacting to asthma triggers, so a person can breathe easier. Controller/maintenance medicines work best if taken every day, as prescribed by a physician. Maintenance therapies, which include newer combination asthma treatments such as SYMBICORT® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol, not only help control asthma symptoms, but also help to improve lung function. SYMBICORT delivers improved lung function within 15 minutes of the first dose and at subsequent doses, offering asthma patients the opportunity to experience control of their asthma symptoms. Administered twice daily, SYMBICORT is a combination of budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), and formoterol, a rapid and long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) for patients 12 years of age and older. SYMBICORT does not replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden asthma attacks.
Asthma G.A.P. in America Key Survey Findings
The Asthma G.A.P. in America is one of the first asthma surveys to comprehensively study adults 18 years of age and older across states, gender and ethnicities to determine what gaps exist between awareness and perceptions regarding asthma. Survey findings show that asthma patients around the country have similar experiences with asthma, highlighting the fact that a better standard of control is needed on a national level, not just one area of the country.
Control
Although asthma patients recognize the options available to control the disease, they are not adapting their behavior appropriately to manage their asthma. Results from the survey revealed:
- Most asthma patients (59%) try to avoid taking medications whenever possible, indicating that they are not properly controlling the disease
- One in three (33%) asthma patients use a rescue inhaler at least daily, and 73% have used a rescue inhaler at least once in the last month
- Seven in 10 of all asthma patients surveyed (71%) would explore new medications with their doctor if they heard about them
- More than half of asthma patients say asthma limits their usual activities or enjoyment of everyday life to varying degrees
Read full Survey Press Release article
|
