Many patients with asthma do not realise the risk they face of suffering a fatal attack, campaigners warned today.
More than two million sufferers are at risk, according to the findings of a survey published today by Asthma UK.
The organisation was launching a "stop asthma deaths" campaign to help cut the toll of 1,140 deaths from the disease each year.
Its survey of more than 50,000 patients found that more than half did not believe they were at risk of a fatal attack.
But, it said, 93% reported having at least one risk factor for a serious attack.
The organisation says patients need to remember to carry inhalers with them and not to ignore worsening symptoms.
David Hiles, of Asthma UK, said: "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. Together, we can change attitudes and save lives."
* Asthma patients have gained from smoking restrictions introduced in England in 2007, researchers report today.
Researchers said the ban has led to 1,900 fewer emergency hospital admissions for asthma patients every year – a reduction of 5%.
The findings are reported in the journal Thorax by Dr Michelle Sims, of Bath University, UK.
* A second survey today finds similar problems among young adults with severe allergies.
The survey found that about a third of young adults did not always carry adrenaline injection pens with them. And more than half reported having spent time in a hospital emergency department after an allergy attack.
Lynn Regent, of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, called for improvements to food labelling and specialist care.
Thorax 16 April 2013 [abstract]
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