World Asthma Day(WAD) is annually observed across the globe on the first Tuesday of May, is a global initiative led by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to raise asthma awareness and improve care.
Key Dates:
The WAD 2025 was observed on May 6, 2025
- WAD 2024 was observed on May 7, 2024
- WAD 2026 will be observed on May 5, 2026
2025 Theme:
The theme for WAD 2025 is “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL.”
- It highlights the necessity of ensuring that individuals with asthma have access to essential inhaled medications, crucial for both controlling the disease and managing attacks.
Background:
i.World Asthma Day was first observed in 1998 during the inaugural World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, with participation from over 35 countries.
ii.The day is strategically placed in May, aligning with seasons (spring/fall) when asthma symptoms often exacerbate due to environmental factors and is also recognized as World Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month.
What is Asthma?
i.Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease and one of the most common chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), affecting around 1% to 29% of the global population.
- It is characterized by inflammation of the airways, causing symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, and chest tightness.
ii.Causes and Risk Factors: Factors include genetics, allergies, urbanization, early life exposures (like tobacco smoke and air pollution), and obesity.
iii.Treatment and Management: Inhalers are primary in asthma management, delivering medication directly to the lungs. Types are
- Bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol) for quick symptom relief.
- Corticosteroids (e.g., beclometasone) to control inflammation.
Challenges in Asthma Care:
i.Under-Diagnosis: Prevalent in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) due to limited healthcare infrastructure.
ii.Under-Treatment: Leads to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and reduced productivity.
ii.Economic Barriers: High costs of inhalers restrict access even in wealthy nations.
Global Initiatives and Reports:
i.To mark WAD 2025, the Global Asthma Network (GAN) released the Global Asthma Report 2025: Patient Stories, highlighting real-life challenges faced by asthma patients worldwide.
ii.Asthma inhalers are listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines and classified as “Best Buys” for NCDs.
iii.The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) launched a campaign urging global leaders to invest in solutions that make inhaled treatments accessible to all.
Key statistics:
i.Global Impact: Over 260 million people suffer from asthma, resulting in 450,000+ preventable deaths annually.
ii.Mortality Disparity: 96% of asthma deaths occur in LMICs due to limited access to Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS).
iii.High-Income Countries: High treatment costs lead to poorly managed asthma and preventable deaths.
Upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs:
The 4th United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting on NCDs (September 2025) will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the United States of America(USA). It will focus on:
- Reducing premature NCD deaths by one-third by 2030.
- Prioritizing equitable access to asthma medicines in national health policies.
About Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA):
Managing Director (MD) & Chair – Arzu Yorgancioglu(Turkey)
Headquarters – Wisconsin, the United States of America (USA)
Launched – 1993
