The assessment, diagnosis and management of asthma

Asthma has a substantial impact on the quality of life of the 5.4 million people in the UK receiving treatment for asthma and on their families.¹

Persistent symptoms cause significant morbidity and absence from work and school, and poor control results in increased hospital admissions.² Mortality rates associated with asthma have declined since the 1960s, but 1,131 deaths were reported in 2009. Issues with inhaler technique, adherence, and response to treatment are linked to poor asthma control.³

Addressing causes of poorly-controlled asthma, and improving care for disease sufferers could avoid 75 per cent of hospital admissions and up to 90 per cent of deaths.⁴