Global Asthma Network survey suggests more national asthma strategies could reduce burden of asthma

Date
2017-02-01
Authors
Asher, I
Haahtela, T
Selroos, O
Ellwood, P
Ellwood, E
Global Asthma Network Study Group
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Allergol Immunopathol (Madr).
Abstract
Background: Several countries or regions within countries have an effective national asthma strategy resulting in a reduction of the large burden of asthma to individuals and society. There has been no systematic appraisal of the extent of national asthma strategies in the world. Methods: The Global Asthma Network (GAN) undertook an email survey of 276 Principal Investigators of GAN centres in 120 countries, in 2013-2014. One of the questions was: "Has a national asthma strategy been developed in your country for the next five years? For children? For adults?". Results: Investigators in 112 (93.3%) countries answered this question. Of these, 26 (23.2%) reported having a national asthma strategy for children and 24 (21.4%) for adults; 22 (19.6%) countries had a strategy for both children and adults; 28 (25%) had a strategy for at least one age group. In countries with a high prevalence of current wheeze, strategies were significantly more common than in low prevalence countries (11/13 (85%) and 7/31 (22.6%) respectively, p<0.001). Interpretation: In 25% countries a national asthma strategy was reported. A large reduction in the global burden of asthma could be potentially achieved if more countries had an effective asthma strategy.
Description
Keywords
Asthma , Burden , Global , Management , National , Network , Strategies
Citation
Asher I, Haahtela T, Selroos O, Ellwood P, Ellwood E; Global Asthma Network Study Group. Global Asthma Network survey suggests more national asthma strategies could reduce burden of asthma. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2017 Mar-Apr;45(2):105-114. https://doi. 10.1016/j.aller.2016.10.013. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PMID: 28161283.