‘58% of asthma patients in Oman made an emergency visit to hospital in 2012’

“According to a study on the occurrence of asthma symptoms, 71 per cent of the patients in Oman experience symptoms during the day, 47 per cent while exercising and 44 per cent during sleep,” said Dr Mohammed Redha al Lawati, consultant pulmonologist and head of the department for HIV, leprosy and infectious disease control programme at Al Nahda Hospital.

He was speaking at an asthma awareness conference organised by Cipla on Monday.

“The study also showed that 38 per cent of adults and 33 per cent of children with asthma skipped work or school due to the condition in 2012. Around 58 per cent of asthma patients in Oman had to make emergency hospital visits last year,” he told Muscat Daily.

Dr Lawati spoke about the classifications and diagnosis of asthma, provided guidelines for the management and prevention of the condition, and made case presentations. He also touched upon various asthma medications used and gave tips on the correct way of using an inhaler.