New hope for asthma patients
PEOPLE with uncontrolled asthma in Wales could be missing out on specialist treatments that could help improve their quality of life, it is claimed.
Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation estimate there are 11,000 adults in Wales have severe asthma, with many taking steroid tablets to treat a severe asthma attack or a flare up in symptoms.
However, the charities claim repeated steroid use has been shown to weaken the body’s ability to defend against illnesses such as colds, flu and pneumonia.
Despite this, the uptake of other specialist treatments, which could help treat uncontrolled asthma without the need for steroid tablets, has been low.
They describe this as a “major concern” for vulnerable people, especially those who’ve been shielding, as we approach Christmas.
Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation estimates show as many as 75% of people are eligible for specialist treatments like biologics, genetically engineered proteins that target specific parts of the immune system that fuel inflammation, but are not being referred to specialist centres and getting to try these new treatments available on the NHS.
In a survey of people on biologics, conducted in August, it was found that:
Almost two thirds (64%) say biologic treatment has reduced their asthma symptoms and asthma attacks and for 43% it has reduced their number of hospital admissions;
■ More than one in five (23%) say it has been completely life-changing, with almost half (45%) being able to reduce their oral steroid use or stop it completely;
■ One in five (23%) now take less time off work or have managed to go back to work and many can take better care of themselves by being able to exercise more (29%).
Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation Wales are now calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to invest in asthma services so people can access these life-changing biologic medicines.
They’ve also launched a campaign calling for people to use their new online tool (www.asthma.org. uk/severeasthma) to find out if they should be referred for such treatments.
Joseph Carter, head of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation Wales, said: “Winter is the deadliest season for people with asthma, and we know services are going to be stretched to breaking point due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. That’s why it’s so important people with uncontrolled symptoms and suspected severe asthma are assessed and put on the right treatments. Doing so will help keep them out of hospital and reduce the number of deadly asthma attacks.”
Abigail Tanner has severe asthma and used to rely on heavy doses of steroid tablets to manage her condition. Discussing the findings she said: “Due to my condition, I have spent long periods using steroid treatments. The tablets really affected my health: they disrupted my sleep, made it hard not to gain weight, and even led to be developing osteopenia due to my repeated usage of them.
“Thankfully, due to a lot of consultative care and a fantastic local asthma nurse, I’ve been able to find other medications and treatments which work for me and massively reduce my use of steroid treatments. This has made a real difference to my life and could do the same for so many others.
“I hope that everyone who can do so will get the opportunity to try out alternative treatments and find what works best for them.”
Andrew Whittamore, clinical lead for Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation and a practising GP, added: “Severe asthma can have a colossal impact on the quality of life of those affected, however hope is on the horizon and new, potentially life-changing treatments are available on the NHS.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We expect health boards to provide a comprehensive range of services for people with asthma. As part of the national Respiratory Health Delivery Plan, health boards have come together to form the Welsh Difficult Asthma Group to help meet the needs of patients with more severe asthma and this includes a focus on biologic therapies.”