An estimated 450,000 people in Ireland currently have asthma, with approximately 900,000 people expected to develop the disease during their lifetime. An estimated 3-10% of the asthma population will develop severe asthma. As one of Ireland’s most common chronic diseases, asthma puts a significant economic burden on patients, their families, wider society, the health system, and the Exchequer. Due to the additional healthcare needs of severe asthma patients, and the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives, severe asthma can represent an even more profound burden.By conducting this research, the Asthma Society aims to highlight the particular experiences and needs of people with severe asthma, a small subset of those we represent, who can face disproportionate challenges in navigating the Irish health system and, indeed, their daily lives.It has been directly informed and shaped by insights gathered from those using and delivering Ireland’s severe asthma healthcare services, making it the first report of its kind in Ireland. It examines the standard of severe asthma care in Ireland and the challenges faced by patients and their healthcare professionals in optimising that care. Furthermore, it identifies measures to address these challenges through concrete and immediate recommendations to policymakers.
