An average of almost two Irish people a week are dying of asthma, new research published today shows.
Approximately 6,300 people in the State suffer from severe asthma, according to the study, with 33 per cent reporting the illness cost them job opportunities.
The report, Severe Asthma in Ireland and Europe, a Patient's Perspective, was published today.
It reveals the economic burden of asthma in Ireland is substantial. In 2003 the total cost to the State was €463 million with emergency care and hospitalisation accounting for €227 million of this.
Some 25,000 Accident and Emergency visits annually are asthma related and between 6,000 and 7,000 people are hospitalised with asthma related illnesses each year.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma and asthma deaths will increase by almost 20 per cent in the next 10 years if urgent action is not taken.
Commenting before the report's launch today, Dr Pat Manning, Respiratory Physician and Chairperson of the Severe Asthma Advisory Group said: "Severe asthma is a debilitating condition which causes frequent emergency treatment, hospital admissions, breathlessness and speech limiting attacks.
"This report highlights the social, personal, health and economic burden of severe asthma in Ireland."
In the report it is also revealed that 61 per cent of severe asthma patients in Ireland have their sleep disturbed a number of times a week, compared to 24 per cent of people in Europe. Nineteen per cent of severe asthma patients in Ireland say their asthma cost them a promotion, compared to 9 per cent in Europe.
Almost one in three people (29 per cent) in Ireland with severe asthma reported restrictions in their daily lives due to the severity of their condition and the three most common things severe asthma patients cited as missing out on are physical activity (81 per cent), going out with friends (62 per cent) and being able to keep pets (57 per cent)
Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma in the world and it is estimated that more than 470,000 people in Ireland have the conditions.
