Project overview
Background
Around two in three people with asthma also have at least one other long‑term health condition. Common examples include obesity, diabetes, mental health conditions (such as anxiety or depression), allergies, and acid reflux. These conditions can make asthma harder to control and asthma can also make these conditions harder to manage.
In primary care, asthma is often managed on its own, with less attention paid to other conditions at the same time. Although clinical guidelines recommend looking after these conditions together, they do not give clear advice on how this should happen in routine appointments. Many people with asthma say they would like care that looks at their health as a whole, not just their asthma.
Aim
This project aims to understand how asthma and other conditions affect each other, what makes them difficult to manage together, and what could help improve care. The findings will be used to plan a digital tool which helps healthcare professionals spot and treat other conditions which make asthma worse during routine asthma reviews.
Our research plan
The project has two parts. First, we will look at and summarise existing research to understand which conditions are most likely to make asthma worse, and how they affect people’s health and use of healthcare.
Second, we will speak with people who have asthma and other conditions, and with healthcare professionals who carry out asthma reviews in GP practices. We will explore their experiences and what support would be realistic and helpful in day‑to‑day practice. We will also ask healthcare professionals for views on how brief prompts or guidance used during asthma reviews could help them recognise other conditions, prioritise what to address, and signpost people to existing support.
We will bring together findings from both parts to help us plan a digital tool which can be used during existing routine asthma reviews to provide better care for people with asthma and other conditions. People with lived experience of asthma, including individuals from underserved communities, have helped shape this project and will continue to be involved, including through community listening cafés and work with Asthma+Lung UK.
Around two in three people with asthma also have at least one other long‑term health condition. Common examples include obesity, diabetes, mental health conditions (such as anxiety or depression), allergies, and acid reflux. These conditions can make asthma harder to control and asthma can also make these conditions harder to manage.
In primary care, asthma is often managed on its own, with less attention paid to other conditions at the same time. Although clinical guidelines recommend looking after these conditions together, they do not give clear advice on how this should happen in routine appointments. Many people with asthma say they would like care that looks at their health as a whole, not just their asthma.
Aim
This project aims to understand how asthma and other conditions affect each other, what makes them difficult to manage together, and what could help improve care. The findings will be used to plan a digital tool which helps healthcare professionals spot and treat other conditions which make asthma worse during routine asthma reviews.
Our research plan
The project has two parts. First, we will look at and summarise existing research to understand which conditions are most likely to make asthma worse, and how they affect people’s health and use of healthcare.
Second, we will speak with people who have asthma and other conditions, and with healthcare professionals who carry out asthma reviews in GP practices. We will explore their experiences and what support would be realistic and helpful in day‑to‑day practice. We will also ask healthcare professionals for views on how brief prompts or guidance used during asthma reviews could help them recognise other conditions, prioritise what to address, and signpost people to existing support.
We will bring together findings from both parts to help us plan a digital tool which can be used during existing routine asthma reviews to provide better care for people with asthma and other conditions. People with lived experience of asthma, including individuals from underserved communities, have helped shape this project and will continue to be involved, including through community listening cafés and work with Asthma+Lung UK.
