Asthma deaths increased 25% in past decade

The annual asthma death toll has risen by a quarter, and complacency around asthma has led to thousands of preventable deaths, according to new analysis by Asthma + Lung UK.

The new research shows that over 12,000 people in the UK have died from asthma attacks in the past ten years and seven out of ten are not receiving basic life-saving asthma care.

Asthma + Lung UK is now calling on the government to introduce national targets to end preventable asthma deaths. The charity says they must also dedicate sufficient funding to implement the upcoming NICE asthma guidelines, ensuring everyone with the condition receives vital basic care. Investment in technology is also essential for the transformation of asthma management, helping people to manage their condition and recognise warning signs, especially those who are less engaged with healthcare services.

Ten years ago, the National Review of Asthma Deaths: Why asthma still kills (NRAD), was published by the Royal College of Physicians and found that two thirds of asthma deaths were preventable.

Key risk factors for death from asthma include overuse of reliever inhalers indicating poorly controlled asthma, underuse of preventer inhalers and recent emergency hospital visits with no follow-up.

Asthma care is at a standstill

Asthma + Lung UK say there has been a lack of political will to implement NRAD’s recommendations and complacency around the condition means asthma care is at a standstill.

In addition, follow-up care is woefully inadequate, with a recent study showing that two in three (82%) people are not getting an appointment with a GP or asthma nurse within the recommended 48 hours after an emergency admission, when they are most at risk of another serious attack. Furthermore, two in five (40%)9 people who ended up in hospital didn’t have a follow-up within 28 days.

Sarah MacFadyen, head of policy and external affairs for Asthma + Lung UK, said: “It’s scandalous that ten years on from NRAD’s recommendations to improve asthma care, four people are still dying needlessly from the condition every day. Asthma care is in crisis. People are not getting the care they need and deserve. As a result the UK continues to have one of the worst asthma death rates in Europe. We don’t want to be saying the same thing in another ten years; this is a problem we know how to fix.

“With better care and support, people with asthma could manage their condition well and avoid life-threatening asthma attacks, while investment in research and innovation to develop technology to help people self-manage their asthma, could also be transformative like it has for conditions like diabetes. Not only will these changes save lives and improve people’s health and quality of life, it will also reduce the impact of poorly controlled asthma on health services and help the NHS.”