GINA organizes the World Asthma Day in collaboration with health care groups and asthma educators throughout the world. The 21th World Asthma Day was held on the first Tuesday in May (7th May 2019). This year, the theme of the World Asthma Day was “STOP for Asthma”.
In order to support the World Asthma Day, several Chinese groups including the Chinese asthma Union Network, the Asthma group of the respiratory branch of Chinese medical association, National asthma research collaboration group as well as the Academic working committee on asthma of the respiratory branch of Chinese society of gerontology convened the “Press conference on 2019 the world asthma day” on 6th May 2019 in Beijing. The general leader of the Chinese asthma Union Network, Professor Jiangtao Lin, Kaisheng Yin, Xin Zhou, attended the meeting and gave keynote speeches. This conference was held by Professor Ying Nong from the respiratory and critical care department of the China-Japanese Friendship hospital.
The Board of Directors of GINA, Professor Jiangtao Lin enhanced that the theme for the World Asthma Day of this year was “Whole course management to control asthma (STOP for asthma)”. Furthermore, Professor Lin emphasized that the management of asthma requires the joint efforts of both medical staffs and the patients. It is necessary to evaluate, treat and monitor at all stages of asthma control, so as to perform an effective implementation of the whole process management. Overall, there is still a long way to go before making progress in effectively managing asthma among Chinese patients.
Professor Lin also gave a keynote speech regarding the “the present situation and challenges of asthma management in China”. According to the results from two national multicenter survey at period of 2007—2008 and 2015—2016, it was estimated that up to 30 million people suffered asthma in China, whereas the overall control rate of asthma was only 28.5%. This rate was higher than the data in 2008, however, when compared with the developing countries (i.e. the USA), challenges remain for China.
