Study finds asthma care inferior

Researchers assessed asthma burden and treatment practice in the U.S. based on results of the recently completed Asthma Insight and Management telephone survey in a new study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Phoenix, Nov. 11-16. The asthma survey, the most comprehensive in the U.S. in the past 10 years, reported 73 percent of patients experienced asthma symptoms or an asthma attack in the past 12 months, 63 percent were affected by asthma throughout the year, and 41 percent believed their asthma was interfering with their life. Authors conclude that "despite the availability of asthma management guidelines and effective asthma treatments, asthma care is inferior, underscoring the need for improved patient education and use of written action plans."