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55pc asthma patients have uncontrolled disease

Dubai, December 20, 2012

More than 55 per cent of patients suffering from asthma in the UAE are not controlling their disease, according to an expert at the Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society.

Dr Bassam Mahboub, the vice president of the society, estimates that around 13 per cent of the UAE population lives with the disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing.

“One of the biggest problems is that there is a perceived lack of need for medication until symptoms occur, and then patients rush to the emergency department because the symptoms, such as shortness of breath, are frightening – this creates unnecessary stress on the patient and also an unnecessary burden on emergency resources,” said Dr Mahboub, on the sidelines of the Middle East Asthma and Allergy meeting (Meaam) set to take place on December 21 and 22 in Dubai.

Approximately 60 per cent of asthma patients suffer from allergic asthma, and concerning for local doctors is the 10 per cent of asthma patients that suffer from severe persistent allergic asthma that are not adequately controlled by conventional therapies - the consequences for the lack of control in the patients could result in death, according to the author of a new local study on the disease.

“There have been recent advancements in the treatment of uncontrolled severe persistent allergic asthma in the form of a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab. We found that over the course of four years, 83 per cent of the patients we treated with omalizumab had significant clinical improvement in their asthma control – which is very promising,” said Dr Wagih Djazmati, consultant and head, respiratory division, SKMC, who is presenting the findings of his new study at the Meaam.

Omalizumab works by binding to IgE - a natural substance found in the body – thus preventing it from binding to mast cells, and consequently the release of mediators that causes inflammation is stopped.

“Severe asthmatics require regular and multiple treatments, and monitoring, and while I recommend to asthmatics that they come in to see me every three to six months, I need to see patients with severe asthma every month as the disease is extremely unpredictable and needs regular monitoring, particularly in uncontrolled patients,” said Dr Mahboub.

Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways, and when an attack occurs, the muscles surrounding the airways become tight and the lining of the air passages swells, reducing the amount of air that can pass by. An attack can be triggered by animals, changes in weather, dust and tobacco smoke – of particular concern to the region.

“Around 20 to 25 per cent of asthmatics are smokers, which is deeply troubling as smoke can trigger an attack. For this region as well, sandstorms and dustmites are prevalent here, and worsen in the humidity – which is during most of the year,” added Dr Djamatzi.

The Middle East Asthma and Allergy meeting is sponsored by Swiss pharmaceutical company, Novartis. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: UAE | Dubai |

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