Asthma and Lung UK report - Asthma is worse for women (27 April 2022)

Summary

Globally, there are 136 million women with asthma. Asthma is more common among women, women experience more severe symptoms and they are more likely to die from their asthma. Many women experience a significant worsening of symptoms around menstruation and are at risk of potentially fatal asthma attacks every month. However, there has been very little research to understand why.

Asthma and Lung UK has published this report following a roundtable meeting with scientists, funders and pharmaceutical companies to discuss how to transform outcomes for women with asthma. The report covers information on sex bias in asthma and looks at recent developments in understanding about the condition, highlighting areas for further research. The report also makes the case for increasing funding to deliver better outcomes for women with asthma, strengthening leadership and infrastructure in asthma treatment, and increasing innovation in drug trials.

Alongside the report, Asthma and Lung UK has made a short video where one woman talks about her experience of severe asthma, how it has affected her life and why we need more research into the link between asthma, periods and female hormones.

Asthma and Lung UK has also released a survey to find out more about women's experience of living with asthma.