Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma in the world
- 7.1% of 18+ population have asthma
- 18.9% of 13 – 15 year olds have asthma
- 38.5% of 13 – 15 year olds reported wheezing
- More than 1 person a week dies from asthma
- 29% of asthma patients miss school or work
- Adults miss 12 days a year on average
- Children miss 10 days a year on average
The Asthma Demonstration Project in Primary Care was carried out by the Asthma Society of Ireland in 2009 / 2010 and found that:
- 8% had been admitted to hospital
- 14% attended A&E in the last year and
- 27% had been nebulised in the previous year.
- 45% of asthma patients had at least once course of oral steroids in the previous year
- There was an average of 4,753 asthma admissions per year from 2005 – 2010
- A&E admissions are estimated at four times the admission rate, approx 19,000 per annum
- The average length of stay with an asthma admission was 3.13 days
- Patients under 15 average length of stay was 1.9 days
- Patients over 65 average length of stay was 6.2 days
