India has reported the highest level of absenteeism in schools and in the workplace due to asthma, shows a survey study of asthmatic patients from nine nations in the Asia Pacific region (APR).

The study was conducted by the Chest Research Foundation (CRF) Pune and others.

Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) survey is a global survey conducted in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America to characterise patients' insights, attitudes and perceptions about asthma and its treatment.

This study specifically deals with the asthma scenario in APR nations. A total of 80,761 households were screened.

Data from approximately 400 households per country were collected.

"Asthma exacerbations (severity) were found to occur frequently and in a large portion of patients with 64 per cent of all patients reporting exacerbations in the previous year. In China and India, exacerbations were reported by 67 per cent and 66 per cent of patients, respectively, while in Hong Kong and Taiwan, it was only 19 per cent and 21 per cent," Dr Sundeep Salvi, Director, CRF told Sakal Times.

The study has been published in the August issue of the journal Respirology.

The study was conducted in Australia, India, China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

"Of those surveyed, 66 per cent reported having missed work or school in the previous year for an average 13.2 days. India reported the highest percentage (78 per cent) of patients missing work or school, as well as the longest average absences (16.5 days). Productivity decreased by 27 per cent in Malaysia and 50 per cent in India," Dr Salvi said.

"Medication use was highest in India, around 83 per cent. Yet, asthmatics in India had the highest frequency of exacerbations, highest levels of overnight hospitalisations and the largest proportion of respondents who said they had to leave work or school," Dr Salvi said.

• Asthma severity in India is 66 pc
• In Hong Kong, and Taiwan, severity was 19 pc and 21 pc, resp
• 78 pc Indians missed work
• Avg absenteeism in India is 16.5 days
• Only 13 pc absenteeism in South Korea
• Average 3.5 pc absenteeism days in Taiwan
• Productivity decreased by 27 pc in Malaysia
• Productivity decreased by 50 pc in India
• Medication usage in India was 83 pc