LAY OVERVIEW
Living with Severe asthma can have a heavy burden on people’s lives. Symptoms make day-to-day living difficult. It may be difficult to work or study. It may limit social activities, travel and exercise. It can change quickly. And it can cause depression, worry and fear. Hospital stays place an extra burden on people and their families.
People with severe asthma experience a significant burden on their daily lives, above those who have mild-to-moderate disease. This includes:
Patients and healthcare workers work together to limit this burden. People with severe asthma are supported to learn skills to manage their disease. Strong social support is also important. Concerns about medication use and costs can interfere with treatment. Open communication is very important to improve outcomes.
It is important to discuss these issues, in an open and welcoming patient-centred manner. Discussions should also include:
Optimal care requires active engagement between healthcare professionals, the person with severe asthma, their partners or carers, and community members whose understanding is critical to people being able to live safely, in the way they choose and without discrimination.
Adopting a truly patient-centred approach, where what matters to the person with severe asthma is acknowledged and addressed is central to high quality healthcare. This includes:
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