Asthma patients and physicians both underestimate the extent to which asthma is out of control. Finally, there is a significant communications gap between asthma patients and their physicians. Almost 6 in 10 patients do not achieve acceptable levels of asthma control on at least two of six key Canadian Asthma Consensus Guideline parameters. Patients with poorly controlled asthma are considerably more likely to experience symptoms, activity limitations, and absenteeism, and take more than the recommended weekly dose of rescue medication. More than half of all patients with poorly controlled asthma limit their physical activity.
Physicians generally agree that asthma patients can lead full and active lives.
One-third of patients with poorly controlled asthma don't understand the role of rescue medications. One-third of patients with poorly controlled asthma use rescue medication daily. Canadians with poorly controlled asthma tend to have more severe cases than their controlled counterparts. Physicians often presume their patients are knowledgeable about their disease, but people with asthma do not know enough to initiate change. Increasing physician awareness of the level of control asthma patients actually obtain, and letting patients know what is in fact possible to achieve with this disease, will improve communication between both parties.