Non-Communicable Disease (AQA A Level Geography)

Prevalence and Distribution of Asthma

• Asthma is a non-communicable (non-infectious) chronic (long-term) lung disease found in all countries of the world
• It affects both children and adults, and is the most common chronic disease among children
• Prevalence means the proportion of a population who have a specific characteristic in a given time period
• World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused 455,000 deaths
• Relatively low mortality rate - responsible for less than 1% of worldwide deaths each year
• Used to be more prevalent in HICs but deaths from asthma in low and lower-middle income countries now much greater
• Highest death rate from asthma in HIC is in UAE at 10 deaths per 100,000 of population in 2020
• Highest death rate in low and lower-middle income countries is in Kiribati at 75 deaths per 100,000 in 2020
• 14% of children globally suffer from asthma
• Also prevalent in the 75-79 age group
• Distribution refers to the pattern of health events in a population

The global distribution of asthma cases and deaths, 2020

Impact of Environment on Asthma

• It is difficult to find a single, direct cause of asthma but there seem to be various physical and socio-economic triggers
• Physical or environmental triggers include:
  • Cold and damp air
  • Allergens and irritants such as air pollution, pollen, house dust mites, moulds, and exposure to chemicals, fumes or dust in the workplace
  • Time of year - allergens such as pollen more common in summer months
  • Events in early childhood that affect the developing lungs
    • Low birth weight
    • Prematurity
    • Exposure to tobacco smoke 
    • Other sources of air pollution
    • Viral respiratory infections
• Socio-economic triggers include:
  • Lifestyle choices. There are links between increased asthma cases and:
    • Obesity - studies of diet in children have shown that teenagers eating three or more servings of fast food are 39% more likely to develop severe asthma                                                
    • Psychological stress
    • Smoking 
    • Hygiene - asthma has reduced in more affluent countries where sanitation levels have increased

• Genetics. Asthma more common in children whose family members have the disease
• Links to other allergic conditions such as hayfever and eczema
• Living in urban areas where air quality is poorer

Impact of Asthma on Health and Well-Being

• Although fewer people die from asthma than from many other diseases, it still has severe impacts on people’s quality of life and their well-being
• Asthma attacks cause shortness of breath and coughing as the bronchial tubes in the lungs are restricted
• If attacks are not treated they can lead to death
• Asthma is a lifetime burden as it starts to take effect in younger age-groups than in other chronic conditions such as heart disease
• Asthma sufferers can be less productive at school and work, so educational and career outcomes can be hampered
• The impacts of asthma affect all countries but are most severe in LICs and low-middle income countries as diagnosis and treatments are often less widespread and effective in less affluent regions
• Ethnicity appears to be a factor
• Mortality amongst African Americans in US is three times higher than amongst white populations
• Correlates strongly with areas of poverty, particularly in urban areas with poor air quality and less effective healthcare 
• Treatment of the disease costs governments
• In the UK £1 billion is spent annually by the NHS on asthma care and treatment
• Asthma is one of the leading causes of work absenteeism in US 
• Direct and indirect costs to the US economy have been estimated at more than $50 billion per year

Management & Mitigation of Asthma

• Mitigation means reducing the severity, seriousness, or harmfulness of something

Management and mitigation of asthma