Singapore, Sep 07, 2010: Patients with uncontrolled asthma in Japan and US, report having significantly worse quality of life and use significantly more healthcare resources, than patients with controlled asthma, according to the National Health and Wellness Survey, conducted by Kantar Health, a global consultancy company. The findings were presented at the 4th ISPOR (International Society for Pharmacoeconomic and Outcomes Research) Asia-Pacific conference in Phuket, Thailand.

“Asthma affects over 300 million people worldwide, and our research shows that nearly half of asthma patients in Japan and the US do not have their disease under control," said Dr Marco DiBonaventura,  director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research at Kantar Health. "Even after controlling for demographics and patient characteristics, US and Japanese patients with uncontrolled asthma reported significantly worse mental and physical quality of life, compared to those whose asthma is controlled.”

The National Health and Wellness Survey revealed that patients with uncontrolled asthma were hospitalized significantly, more often than those with controlled asthma, especially in Japan. In addition, US patients with uncontrolled asthma, visited the emergency room (ER) significantly more often than patients whose asthma is under control.

“Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions around the world," said Dr DiBonaventura. “Given the substantial prevalence of uncontrolled asthma, and the significantly greater burden of asthma on the healthcare system in both the US and Japan, appropriate treatment and disease management should be reinforced in the healthcare community.”