| With the future looking up for asthma therapies, Sriram V at Frost & Sullivan breaks down the challenges that still remain
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that normally affects the bronchi, the system of airways that convey air into and out of the lungs. The disease is triggered by a multitude of factors including airborne irritants, allergens, cold air, exercise and respiratory infections. Inflammation is a reaction to infections and other triggers in the lining of the airways and the underlying tissue. The inflammation turns the airways red, swollen, narrower and extra-sensitive. Inflammation of the airways causes asthma symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing by restricting or limiting the airflow to and from the lungs.
Despite the alarming rise in the incidence of asthma in all forms and across all age groups, the gravity of the situation is yet to sink in to ensure the successful management and treatment of the condition. A whopping 30 million people in Europe suffer from asthma, out of which 20 per cent is believed to be suffering from moderate to severe persistent asthma. Concerns loom large over the increasing economic burden of the disease, as statistics show that $9.8 billion is lost in productivity.
Leading asthma experts, EU policymakers, regulators and patient groups met in October 2006 to discuss asthma management at the Summit for Change in Asthma Management hosted in the European Parliament. The summit developed a ‘Brussels Declaration’, outlining the changes that are required at both a regulatory and clinical level to ensure better treatment for all asthma patients in Europe and to discuss ways to tackle the sharp increase in cases across the EU. |
