Increase in asthma instances observed among population
Asthma, a common chronic disease affecting both children and adults, has a significant global presence. As of 2021, the current global prevalence stands at approximately 260 million cases[1]. Despite a worldwide decrease in death and disability rates from asthma, there are notable regional differences in its prevalence and impact.
In low- to middle-income countries, asthma mortality is disproportionately high, accounting for more than 80% of global deaths due to asthma[2]. This is largely due to challenges surrounding underdiagnosis and lack of treatment for asthma in these regions. On the other hand, the prevalence rates in many less developed countries are lower compared to high-income countries, partly because of underdiagnosis and differences in healthcare access[1].
Middle- and high-income regions, particularly Asia (especially South Asia) and high-SDI (Socio-Demographic Index) regions, bear a significant burden of asthma. However, high-income regions such as North America and parts of Europe have seen slight increases in asthma prevalence and incidence, potentially reflecting better diagnostic capacity and healthcare access[1].
There are notable disparities within high-income countries as well. In the US, asthma disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities and those in lower socioeconomic brackets, with higher prevalence and mortality rates in these populations[2].
Asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, breathlessness, a tight chest, and coughing, can worsen and intermittently improve. Doctors are aware of the triggers that can irritate the airways of people with asthma, which include colds and flu, allergies, smoke, fumes, and pollution, medication, emotional responses, sudden changes in temperature, mold or damp, exercise, and certain environmental factors like thunderstorms and heat[3].
Having a family history of asthma or atopic conditions, being premature or having a low birth weight, exposure to tobacco smoke as a child, and having a lung infection called bronchiolitis as a child can all increase a person's risk of developing asthma[3]. Additionally, having an atopic condition like eczema, a food allergy, or hay fever can also increase a person's risk of developing asthma[3].
In the United States, nearly 26 million people have asthma, including around 21 million adults and 4 million children under 18[3]. In the UK, more than 8 million people have a diagnosis of asthma, equal to about 12% of the population[3]. In some extreme cases, a person having a severe asthma attack may experience symptoms such as blue lips or fingers, fainting, and a fast heartbeat.
It is crucial to note that almost all deaths from asthma are avoidable if people get the treatment they need. In the US, an average of 10 people die from asthma every day[3]. This underscores the importance of improving healthcare access and diagnosis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
References:
[1] Global Asthma Report 2021 [2] The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2020 [3] American Lung Association [4] The Lancet, 2021
- The global prevalence of childhood asthma, a common respiratory condition, stands at approximately 260 million cases as of 2021.
- Despite a decrease in death and disability rates from asthma, there are notable regional differences in its prevalence and impact.
- In low- to middle-income countries, asthma mortality accounts for more than 80% of global deaths due to the disease.
- The high asthma mortality in these regions is largely due to challenges surrounding underdiagnosis and lack of treatment for the condition.
- On the other hand, the prevalence rates in less developed countries are lower compared to high-income countries, partly due to underdiagnosis and differences in healthcare access.
- Middle- and high-income regions, particularly Asia (especially South Asia) and high-SDI regions, bear a significant burden of asthma.
- High-income regions like North America and parts of Europe have seen slight increases in asthma prevalence and incidence, potentially reflecting better diagnostic capacity and healthcare access.
- In the US, asthma disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities and those in lower socioeconomic brackets, with higher prevalence and mortality rates in these populations.
- Asthma symptoms can worsen and intermittently improve, with triggers including colds and flu, allergies, smoke, fumes, and pollution, medication, emotional responses, sudden changes in temperature, mold or damp, exercise, and certain environmental factors like thunderstorms and heat.
- Having a family history of asthma or atopic conditions, being premature or having a low birth weight, exposure to tobacco smoke as a child, and having a lung infection called bronchiolitis as a child can all increase a person's risk of developing asthma.
- Additionally, having an atopic condition like eczema, a food allergy, or hay fever can also increase a person's risk of developing asthma.
- In the United States, nearly 26 million people have asthma, including around 21 million adults and 4 million children under 18.
- In the UK, more than 8 million people have a diagnosis of asthma, equal to about 12% of the population.
- In some extreme cases, a person having a severe asthma attack may experience symptoms such as blue lips or fingers, fainting, and a fast heartbeat.
- It is crucial to note that almost all deaths from asthma are avoidable if people get the treatment they need.
- Improving healthcare access and diagnosis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is essential to reducing asthma mortality and improving overall health-and-wellness, including cardiovascular-health, mental-health, mens-health, womens-health, parenting, weight-management, skin-care, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition, as well as addressing chronic-diseases, autoimmune-disorders, cancer, neurological-disorders, and therapies-and-treatments.
