Asthma patients "unaware" of risk
Tuesday May 1st, 2012
More than a third of people with asthma are at risk of a fatal attack through not realising the extent of the threat they face, according to a study published today.
Too
many people with the condition "considerably" underestimate
their risk of having a serious attack, according to Asthma UK.
Nearly 25,000 people took the organisation's on-line "Triple A" test earlier this year.
The test is designed to assess whether a sufferer is exposed to factors which could cause a serious attack. It asks about use of inhalers and whether a patient has needed hospital treatment. It also asks whether the patient has needed an additional course of steroids.
The study showed that 93 per cent of respondents were at increased risk - but as many as 55 per cent did not think this before taking it, according to Asthma UK.
It also showed that taking the test made patients more careful. Six weeks after taking the test, 36 per cent reported taking steps to avoid asthma triggers and 42 per cent had made sure they knew when to take their medicine.
A number of celebrities took part in the study, including Stephen Fry, actress Barbara Windsor and Olympic runner Jo Pavey.
Participant Louis Saha, a footballer with Tottenham Hotspur, said: "Football is a tough sport to be involved in for someone with asthma, it's a disadvantage in a way.
"I've had to find a way to control my asthma because of the work I do and I have always behaved very well with my medicine. I'm very experienced at controlling it. Anything that can be done to prevent asthma attacks is good."
Asthma kills three people a day in the UK - and someone is admitted to hospital with a serious attack every seven minutes.
Asthma UK chief executive Neil Churchill said: "It's extremely worrying that many people with asthma do not realise their own risk of ending up in hospital.
"As up to 75 per cent of emergency hospital admissions are preventable with better management and support it's vitally important people understand their asthma and crucial that they are supported by healthcare professionals who can help them to reduce their risk."
Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Respiratory | UK News
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