The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Asthma in Europe is widespread, serious but controllable. The negative effects of smoking and second-hand smoke on general health are well documented, but these seem to be worse among people with asthma. Interestingly, there are 30 million people in Europe who have asthma and it is well known that second-hand smoke is a major asthma trigger, reduces lung function and causes more frequent attacks. The goal of this study is to give voice to the opinions and experiences of people across Europe who endure a severe, yet largely preventable burden of asthma.

Methods: The results of this study were obtained via 15-minute telephone interviews conducted with 800 people with severe asthma symptoms in four European countries. The sample included participants from France (200), Germany (200), Spain (200) and Sweden (200).

Results: Among the four countries, 27% said they smoked, including 28% in France and Germany, 24% in Spain and 18% in Sweden. Furthermore, 16% wanted to see their government implement a complete ban of smoking in public places, which they said would improve their asthma. In total, 41% were exposed to second-hand smoke, including 17% at work, 14% at home and 10% both at home and at work. In Sweden, many told us that they often had to avoid public places because of their asthma, these include: restaurants (35%), smoky premises (18%) and buses (15%). These findings suggest that it is crucial to encourage efforts focused on reducing the impact of smoking and second-hand smoke on people's health, including those with asthma.