On World Asthma Day, May 7, asthma awareness organizations spoke about the need for better global education.
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| During World Asthma Day on May 7, advocacy groups for asthma awareness addressed the need for better worldwide education. |
Asthma affects more than 260 million people worldwide and is one of the most common non-communicable diseases. 1 World Asthma Day 2024 brought together key stakeholders to share with the public the importance of education to save the lives of people with asthma around the world.
In addition to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which ATS is a member, the Global Initiative on Asthma (GINA) is also an important institution for asthma education. Established by WHO in 1993, GINA focuses on raising awareness of asthma and the importance of educating and providing as many resources as possible to underserved communities. 2
“FIRS raises awareness among healthcare professionals of the preventable morbidity and mortality caused by asthma and the published evidence on effective asthma treatment, so that they can provide patients with reliable information and optimal treatment. "We are asking you to do so," the ATS wrote. Press release.1
Of the 260 million people with asthma, 450,000 people die each year related to asthma. Because most of these deaths are preventable, these organizations feel there is a lack of current education on this issue. 1
According to the ATS, there are four key areas where asthma education is most important and needs to be improved for better global communication. These areas include inappropriate or inaccurate diagnosis, inappropriate use of anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) inhalers, and overuse and over-reliance on short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA) inhalers. , including inadequate identification of patients requiring specialist evaluation and further treatment. .1
To further enrich the literature supporting asthma education, GINA health experts have identified four key concepts of asthma care in primary care: diagnosis, long-term management, assessment of control, and management of severe asthma. Published recommendations. Regarding the diagnosis of asthma, overdiagnosis of asthma also appears to be a difficult problem for clinicians to address due to the global prevalence of this disease.
"Overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of asthma are common, and there is usually a lack of objective pulmonary function tests that can detect variable expiratory flow limitation to support the diagnosis of asthma and help rule out other causes. "This is due to this," write Levy et al.2.
Diagnosing asthma in children also seems problematic, as wheezing is common in children under the age of 5, with or without asthma. The authors also say it's important for doctors to understand the difference between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
"History and pattern of symptoms, as well as past records, can help distinguish COPD from asthma with persistent airflow limitation. Asthma and COPD can occur together in the same patient, especially in smokers and older people. ,” the researchers wrote.
For long-term treatment of asthma, ICS therapy is the gold standard for managing symptoms and controlling asthma flare-ups. However, GINA recognizes that asthma treatment is not a "one-size-fits-all" treatment.
“Asthma is a chronic disease that is prone to flare-ups, so GINA emphasizes that patients need regular check-ups, evaluations, and adjustments.” “This includes assessment of asthma control, personal risk factors, comorbidities and treatment review and optimization, including close attention to adherence and inhaler technique, and individualized self-help, including written/visual action plans. This includes the provision of management education,” the researchers continued. 2
Additionally, GINA introduced the different conditions of severe asthma and how it can be recognized and treated. Some cases of severe asthma indicated by GINA may require specialist opinion or treatment.
Finally, GINA addressed her assessment of asthma control in two key areas: symptoms and risk factors. Researchers focus on symptom control and risk factors for poor future outcomes in asthma, and encourage doctors not to treat asthma as an acute disease. They contact their GP regularly.
Each May, the aforementioned organizations collaborate with the CDC to establish Asthma Awareness Month. Helping doctors and patients learn more about this common disease is key to advancing treatments and preventing deaths.
“During World Asthma Day and the month of May, people with asthma and organizations dedicated to asthma management and education unite to raise awareness of asthma and improve the lives of all people with asthma.” The CDC states3.
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