Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
51 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a recent report which suggests that just 8% of an estimated 400,000 asthma sufferers do not have their symptoms under control; the steps she has taken to deal with the increasing asthma problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26354/04]
View answerAsthma is one of the most common chronic diseases, with approximately 10% of people having had an attack of asthma at some time. Asthma prevalence across Europe has sharply increased in recent years and in Ireland, the level of asthma has risen to 20% in young teenagers.
Asthma is a complex disorder where genetics and environment play an interacting role. It is generally recognised that there is a need for further work on the multiple facets of gene-environment interaction and their relevance for measuring susceptibility to asthma.
Asthma treatment has improved substantially in recent years, however, there is scope for the development and utilisation of asthma management guidelines which emphasise the key role of first line preventive therapy which will reduce morbidity and hospital admissions. A full range of treatment services is available for people with asthma, incorporating hospital and primary care services and assistance with the community drugs schemes.
The first step in an asthma initiative is the recognition of the condition as an important cause of morbidity and mortality and also that it carries economic costs. A range of initiatives have been taken this year to prevent and control asthma, namely, smoking reduction — given the association between early exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke and childhood asthma, the Smoke Free at Work initiative and more general health promotion activities will ensure greater protection from toxic tobacco smoke. These are providing benefits to workers and the general public and help to reduce asthma and respiratory diseases; the Irish EU Health Presidency — as part of the Irish Presidency, a set of proposals were developed by the Irish Presidency in April 2004. These proposals called for the need for research into the factors underlying asthma; the development of common terminologies and better information systems on asthma; the exchange of best practice in relation to the prevention and management of childhood asthma; and involvement of all relevant stakeholder groups; Ireland hosted the EU's Joint Research Council, JRC, Childhood Asthma Envirogenomics Conference, which provided further research information on asthma and its causes; and information — Ireland already participates in international prevalence studies and additional work is ongoing with the ERHA on the development of further information systems.
The initiatives outlined above illustrate the broad range of activities to reduce morbidity and mortality from asthma. This should provide a better understanding of the nature of asthma and highlight areas for development so that individuals affected can go about their normal activities without fear or concern.
