75% of asthma patients without management plan

THREE out of four asthma patients in Ireland do not have an asthma management plan, an essential element in controlling the condition, a new survey reveals.

And only half of patients have a peak flow meter that gives a clear idea as to whether their asthma is under control or not.

Results of the survey were released by the Asthma Society of Ireland on the eve of World Asthma Day, which takes place today.

This year’s theme is “control is in your hands” and Ireland and Lions rugby star Ronan O’Gara, who is helping to promote it, is ensuring it is not kicked into touch.

Ronan was diagnosed with asthma as a child and it was always an issue for him, especially growing up.

“It’s only in the last 10 years that the condition has improved. Now I would say it is a minor obstacle,” he said.

And the rugby star found there were definitely ways that people with asthma could control the condition with the help of their doctor or asthma nurse.

“I also think the more sport you play, the healthier you become, which in the long run, benefits your asthma,” he said.

Other results revealed that just over a third of people with asthma had received the annual flu vaccine, even though respiratory viruses cause 60% of asthma attacks in adults and 80% in children.

And just 22% had used spirometry, used to diagnose or measure lung function in asthma patients.

The society’s chief executive, Dr Jean Holohan, said about half a million people had asthma – the most common and fastest growing chronic disease in Ireland.

She said the research showed that poor asthma control was a significant problem in Ireland.

She pointed out that about 5,500 people are admitted to hospital every year in Ireland and about 55% of these admissions are in children under 14.

Prevalence in 13 and 14-year-olds increased by 40% between 1995 and 2003, confirming that asthma is the most chronic disease in childhood and the most commonrespiratory condition in Ireland. Tragically, more than one person dies from asthma every week in Ireland.

The society and the Irish College of General Practitioners have developed evidence-based guidelines for asthma management in adults and new guidelines for children under five will be launched this month.

The society will launch a pilot primary care asthma management programme in the autumn, that is capable of reducing deaths from asthma by 90% over a 10-year period and reducing hospitalisations by more than 50%.

The programme, based on a highly successful Finnish model, will recruit 25 GPs in five primary care teams and will reach over 5,000 asthma patients.

Total funding for the six-month pilot project, estimated at about €210,000, is being provided by the society.