Asthma + Lung UK, a charity, has warned that the number of people dying from asthma in the U.K. is on the rise, with hundreds of deaths occurring every year. Over the past ten years, around 12,000 people have died from asthma in the country, and the annual toll is a quarter higher than it was a decade ago. Despite evidence that two-thirds of these deaths are preventable, many risk factors contribute to asthma deaths in the U.K., including overuse of reliever inhalers and underuse of preventer inhalers.
A review by the Royal College of Physicians in 2014 highlighted the importance of regular asthma reviews, documented treatment plans, and inhaler technique checks for people with asthma. However, almost 70% of people surveyed by Asthma + Lung UK are not receiving this basic care package, and few receive appropriate follow-up after an emergency hospital visit. It is recommended that patients see a family doctor within two days of leaving the hospital, but less than 20% of those surveyed said they had, and 40% did not have a follow-up within 28 days.
Asthma is a common respiratory condition affecting approximately 5.4 million people in the U.K. Despite the prevalence of the condition, hospital and community teams are struggling to provide the necessary care for individuals with asthma. The focus is often on treating emergencies rather than a preventative approach to care. Clinical leaders are calling for political will and a workforce to deliver the necessary changes in asthma care in the country.
Asthma + Lung UK clinical lead Andy Whittamore emphasized the importance of better awareness of the seriousness of asthma and supporting individuals in managing their condition themselves. He highlighted the need for healthcare professionals to have the training, time, and resources to ensure that individuals receive the basic care they need. The charity’s policy and external affairs lead, Sarah MacFadyen, criticized the lack of progress in asthma care over the past decade, stating that four people still die needlessly from the condition every day.
In addition to improving adherence to the recommendations of the RCP review, Asthma + Lung UK is advocating for the U.K. government to introduce national targets on preventable asthma deaths. The charity attributes the failure to reduce deaths over the last decade to a sense of complacency around asthma. By investing in care and research into technologies that help people self-manage the condition, policymakers could save lives, improve health and quality of life, and reduce the impact of asthma on the country’s public healthcare system.
Overall, the rising number of asthma deaths in the U.K. is a cause for concern, with preventable factors contributing to hundreds of deaths every year. While there have been recommendations for improving asthma care, many individuals are still not receiving the necessary basic care package. Asthma + Lung UK is calling for urgent action from the government to address the crisis in asthma care, implement national targets, and invest in research and technologies to improve outcomes for individuals living with asthma in the country.
