University of Edinburgh

HDR UK

DL_2024_003

Asthma is a common, long-term lung condition. The main symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and feeling out of breath. The UK has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. 1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults suffer from asthma in the UK. Some groups of people tend to become more unwell with asthma or find it more difficult to control their asthma. For example, asthma often leads to worse health outcomes and worse quality of life for women and people with lower incomes. In this study, we will investigate how asthma affects different groups, including those with high and low incomes, men and women, and people from different ethnic groups. We will also look at how this has changed over the past 10 years. The results will help the NHS provide better care for asthma patients.

Asthma is a respiratory condition characterised by coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. Asthma can be long-lasting and, in some cases, fatal. The UK has one of the highest rates of asthma prevalence in the world, at 9.6% of the population. 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma, with direct and indirect costs of more than £1.1 billion. Socioeconomic and demographic inequalities in asthma care and outcomes are a growing concern - particularly for women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds [6-13]. In the UK, the extent of these inequalities, including how they have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, is not well understood. This project aims to address this gap in knowledge and inform the development and targeting of interventions that reduce NHS costs, improve patient quality of life, and enhance equity in healthcare services. This study is part of a wider Driver Program. To ensure relevance to patients and members of the public, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) leads were invited to provide input at steering group meetings, which has shaped the aims of the Driver Program. Examining inequalities in respiratory health was identified as a key priority.

Public Health Research

31/05/2024

De-Personalised

TRE