30 October 2014 – Today, the Global Asthma Network (GAN) will launch the 2014 Global Asthma Report at 13:00 in Room 128 at the 45th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Barcelona.
The 2014 Global Asthma Report, supported by funding from The Union, was introduced by Prof Innes Asher, Chair of GAN. She was joined at the presentation by Prof Guy Marks and Dr Chiang Chen-Yuan of the GAN Steering Group, and Dr Simon Shaaf and Sara Hassanain.
In the new report, the GAN has brought together an up-to-date overview of the key issues regarding asthma globally:
- Asthma is a common chronic non-communicable disease that affects as many as 334 million people.
- Asthma is a hugely neglected public health and ‘development’ problem in the world which could be solved.
- Asthma is a particularly serious burden in low- and middle-income countries who are least able to afford the costs.
- While our knowledge has increased, the remaining gaps in the data are significant. New surveys are needed to update asthma trends, assess the burden of asthma and access to effective management.
- Political commitment and action are required urgently.
- Asthma medicines need to be affordable and available to all people with asthma.
The report also provides recommendations to the World Health Organization, governments, health authorities and health professionals.
A copy of the report is available at www.globalasthmareport.org.