As many as 70 percent of patients with asthma consistently feel that the disease impairs their quality of life, according to the results of a new study presented at the World Allergy Congress. This study, the largest of its kind, reviewed 24 asthma surveys, with consolidated responses from 58,000 patients. 8,500 healthcare professionals confirmed that thousands of asthma patients worldwide continue to suffer from poor quality of life and symptom control.

Professor Stephen Holgate of the University of Southampton’s School of Medicine and one of the authors of the review of asthma surveys insists that the results are important and cannot be underestimated. He said that the results show that there is a high level of miscommunication between patients and their physicians. There is a need to encourage better communication and education with in the medical community and with patients themselves.

Survey results showed that only 35 percent of healthcare professionals cited inflammation as one of the major causes of asthma. Although 92 percent of physicians considered ‘anti-inflammatory medication’ vital in asthma care, only 21 percent of patients were receiving these agents.

Patients were also confused about the role of airway inflammation in their asthma, with only 22 percent in one survey understanding that their asthma therapy actually may lessen the inflammation.

Because of these survey results, Professor Holgate made a serious call to improve understanding of asthma and increase education about the nature of the disease. It is equally important that patients should be aware of the presence of airway inflammation in asthma.

Meanwhile, in a recent meeting entitled, “The MetaForum: Improving Asthma Therapy through More Effective Control of Inflammation,” experts worldwide discussed the results from the survey and this urged them to issue the following recommendations for action:

* Healthcare professionals should consider the impact uncontrolled symptoms can have on patients’ quality of life. Early recognition and full treatment of airway inflammation is required in order to better manage the symptoms of asthma that affect patients’ quality of life.

* Healthcare professionals and patient organizations need to reinforce to patients and parents that asthma symptoms, which interfere with daily quality of life can be better controlled—patients do not need to suffer in silence.

* Recognize that airway inflammation underlies the disease across all age groups and if left untreated may cause permanent damage.

* Asthma and allergic rhinitis need to be taken more seriously—governments need to realize they are a serious public health problem.