Majority of Canadians with asthma consider their disease 'well controlled'

Survey finds significant gap between how respondents perceive their asthma control and the impact the disease has on daily life

A new survey, Asthma Insight and Management in Europe and Canada (EUCAN AIM), reveals that a majority of Canadians with asthma considered their disease "well controlled" at the time of the survey. However, in the year prior to the survey, more than half (52 per cent) required acute treatment for asthma, including seeing a doctor for worsening symptoms (45 per cent), unscheduled emergency room visits (28 per cent), and being hospitalized overnight (five per cent).

In fact, most (61 per cent) respondents said they or their children experienced episodes in the past 12 months when their asthma symptoms were more frequent or severe than normal, and 10 per cent stated they thought their or their child's life was in danger during an asthma episode.  Some episodes have resulted in serious outcomes, with more than half of patients stating that in their lifetime, they had to stop exercising (58 per cent), they left work or school (34 per cent) or have been admitted to the hospital ICU (12 per cent) because of their symptoms.

"The survey results demonstrate that too many asthma patients are experiencing severe, ongoing symptoms that impact important aspects of their daily lives," says Dr. Malcolm Sears, professor of medicine for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and epidemiologist at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. "We need to ensure that patients feel comfortable working with their physicians to achieve optimal management of this disease." 

Gap Between Perception and Experience

Current Canadian asthma guidelines defining asthma control criteria stipulate, among other criteria, that patients should experience normal physical activity, infrequent exacerbations and no absenteeism from work or school due to the disease. Yet a majority of respondents felt that their or their child's asthma was well-controlled if they experienced exacerbations only three or four times a year (62 per cent), had one emergency room visit (60 per cent) or two urgent doctor visits for asthma per year (61 per cent).

Further results revealed just how much of an impact the disease has on patients' quality of life.  While asthma can be triggered by a number of factors including changes in weather, pollen and dust, most respondents (64 per cent) said they experience asthma symptoms throughout the year, not just on a seasonal basis. Often, these symptoms can be severe; in fact, many patients surveyed experienced severe asthma episodes that caused shortness of breath when they were sitting still (49 per cent), attempting to speak (30 per cent) or sleeping (31 per cent).

"The results of this survey highlight the burden that uncontrolled asthma can have both on the quality of life and on the productivity of Canadians with the disease as well as on our health care system," says Christine Hampson, President, Asthma Society of Canada. "Our mission is to empower every child and adult in Canada with asthma to live productive, active and symptom-free lives. By promoting ongoing awareness of optimal asthma management, we can help more people take an active role in controlling their disease to avoid serious attacks."