The burden of asthma has a profound impact on patients

The AIM survey revealed that nearly twice as many adults with asthma (≥18 years of age, from survey of current asthma patients) report that their asthma limits their daily activities a lot or some (34%) compared with adults without current asthma (≥18 years of age, from survey of general adult population) (18%) who report that their health limits their daily activities a lot or some.

Some highlights were:

• Twice as many adults with asthma report that asthma limits them a lot or some in normal physical exertion (42%) compared with adults without asthma (21%) who report that their health limits them in this area a lot or some
• Twice as many adults with asthma also report that asthma limits them a lot or some in social activities (28%) compared with those without asthma (14%) who report that their health limits their social activities a lot or some

The survey also revealed that asthma symptoms are not only frequent for many asthma sufferers, they are also quite bothersome.

• The majority of adults and adolescents with asthma (≥12 years of age, from survey of current asthma patients) report that wheezing or whistling in chest (57%), chest tightness (54%), and shortness of breath during the day (53%) are either extremely or moderately bothersome when they have them

Asthma imposes a heavy emotional as well as physical burden of disease on sufferers.

• More than twice as many adults with asthma (≥18 years of age, from survey of current asthma patients) (24%) often or sometimes feel embarrassed as a result of their asthma compared with adults without current asthma (≥18 years of age, from survey of general adult population) (11%) who often or sometimes feel embarrassed because of their health
• Nearly twice as many patients with asthma are often or sometimes fearful as a result of their asthma (29%) compared with nonasthmatics who often or sometimes feel fearful as a result of their health (15%)

The survey finds that fear of asthma and its consequences, while far from universal, affects adult and adolescent patients with asthma (≥12 years of age, from survey of current asthma patients).

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