This site is intended for health professionals only


Half of asthma patients underestimate exacerbation risk

More than half of asthma patients did not consider themselves at risk of an asthma attack, despite many having at least one risk factor for an exacerbation, claims an asthma charity.

Asthma UK estimates over two million patients are at risk of an asthma attack without realising it in the UK, after they surveyed over 50,000 people with asthma on their risk factors.

They found 28,115 (52%) of respondents did not think they were at risk of an asthma attack, when 50,068 (93%) of them actually were at risk.

As there are just under 4.3 million adults with asthma in the UK, the survey’s findings suggest that there could be over two million people who are at risk of an asthma attack without realising it.

David Hiles, head of health promotion at Asthma UK, said: ‘Three people die from asthma every single day. We must act now to stop more people losing their lives.

‘It’s particularly vital that healthcare professionals are able to recognise who is at risk, support people to recognise risk factors and help those when they are having an asthma attack.’


Discover the latest in COPD at Pulse Live - our new two-day annual conference for general practice - when Dr Hilary Pinnock, a GP in Whitstable and member of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group, delivers her session on ‘What’s new in COPD?’. She provides advice on pulmonary rehabilitation and telehealth in COPD.

Pulse Live offers practical advice on key clinical and practice business topics, as well as an opportunity to debate the future of the profession, and a top range of speakers includes NICE chair designate Professor David Haslam, GPC deputy chair Dr Richard Vautrey and the Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP, chair of the House of Commons health committee.


          

Visit Pulse Reference for details on 140 symptoms, including easily searchable symptoms and categories, offering you a free platform to check symptoms and receive potential diagnoses during consultations.