In 2023, the Hungarian Pulmonary Service treated 1,770 patients with asthma, almost a third of them in the severe asthma clinic.

In 2023, the pulmonology service of the University Hospital of Navarra (HUN) treated 1,770 patients with asthma, of whom almost a third (531) were seen in the severe asthma clinic. According to the service, severe asthma accounts for 5% to 10% of all asthma cases, although the severity of its symptoms requires more constant monitoring by specialists. In Navarre, the approximately 46,400 people diagnosed with asthma are distributed fairly evenly between women and men: as of 2023, 23,500 women and 22,900 men are affected.

In order to educate the public about this chronic disease, raise awareness of the impact of this disease on the lives of people suffering from it, and raise awareness of the importance of proper management of this disease to alleviate its most serious manifestations, the Hungarian Pulmonology Service has prepared several events for next Tuesday , May 7, World Asthma Day.

In particular, on Tuesday morning, a table will be set up in the consultation center of Principe de Viana, at which specialists from the asthma service will deliver information materials prepared by the staff of this department to interested parties. There will also be a session on the same day where a group of around ten asthma patients will share with professionals what it’s like to live with the condition, explaining how it affects their lives and their experiences with treatment. provided to them by health care.

The pulmonology service has a special department for the treatment of patients with asthma. This department is accredited by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) with a level of high complexity, highest level and has all the diagnostic tools that patients with the most severe symptoms may require, as well as the latest treatment methods. accessible.

It affects 5% of the adult population and 12% of the child population.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways of the lungs, causing difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. This is one of the most common chronic diseases. It is estimated to affect approximately 5% of the world’s population, with this percentage rising to 12% in the pediatric population as it is the childhood condition causing the largest number of hospitalizations.

It can range from mild forms to very serious situations that can endanger the lives of patients. The primary goal of healthcare is to keep the disease under control to reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and side effects of unwanted treatments such as systemic corticosteroids. One of the reasons for poor control is the lack of knowledge on the part of patients about the pathology from which they suffer, its chronicity and the importance of correct and daily treatment. In this sense, non-adherence to treatment and poor inhaler technique are common manifestations that should continue to be addressed by health services.

Likewise, the importance of early diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan are key aspects of effective management of this disease. In addition, good lifestyle habits and a healthy environment are important, especially during childhood. In this sense, exposure to tobacco smoke during childhood and pregnancy, as well as environmental pollution, influence asthma symptoms.