Society supporting asthmatics launched

The prevalence of wheezing in five to eight-year-old Maltese schoolchildren has increased by 50 per cent between 1994 and 2001, according to preliminary data from the International Study of Asthma and other Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).

Compared to another study, carried out in Malta in 1985, the incidence has tripled, said Dr Stephen Montefort, adding that asthma is the most common chronic condition in childhood, which also affects them in adulthood.

Malta, where a third of the population is asthmatic, when compared to other Mediterranean countries is among the most affected, said Anna Mallia, during the launch of the Socjetà Azmatici Maltin (SAM).

In Malta, asthma has "exploded" mainly in the Grand Harbour area and the central eastern area, Paola, Fgura and Tarxien, as well as the central northern area, Sliema, Pembroke and Ta' Xbiex, although it was not known why, Dr Montefort said.

However, the ISAAC study has also shown that, in the last seven years, the quality of life of childhood asthmatics has improved, with less wheezing episodes and a significant decrease in severe attacks, which affect the country as a whole through increased absenteeism from school and work.

Life-threatening attacks and hospital admissions have also decreased, Dr Montefort said.

According to ISAAC, 10 to 20 per cent of Maltese 13 to 14-year-olds are wheezers, with Malta ranking tenth worldwide, while it ranked third in the world for hay fever.

Other interesting statistics show that in Malta, over nine per cent of 13 to 14-year-olds have some kind of allergic symptoms, Dr Montefort said.

The preliminary study also showed an increase in five to eight-year-old wheezers, but no change among the 13-15 age bracket between 1994 and 2001.

In the same period, the number of 15 to 16-year-old smokers was reduced from 13.4 per cent to 8.9 per cent, he said.

Smokers are more likely to continue wheezing and the reduction in smoking was one of the factors that led to stable levels of asthma in 15 to 16-year-olds, Dr Montefort explained.

The support group has been set up to educate asthmatics and their relatives, as well as those who do not suffer from asthma, about the condition and its treatment.

SAM's objective is also to support patients and their families, who feel isolated, or discriminated against, and reassure them that there are many activities they can participate in.

It intends to act as a pressure group on environmental issues and discuss decisions taken by health authorities and health insurance agents regarding hospital and outpatient treatment for asthmatic patients.

SAM also aims to raise funds to assist local scientific research in the field.

On the panel yesterday were national football team goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin and Sirens waterpolo player Jürgen Borg, who are both professional sportsmen despite suffering from asthma.

With the appropriate treatment and a good doctor-patient relationship, asthmatics can lead a completely normal life, as lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran and actress Marylu Coppini testified yesterday.

Misconceptions on the safety of drugs used for asthma led to decreased compliance with treatments, which meant a patient's respiratory symptoms were not controlled and could lead to life-threatening attacks, Dr Montefort said.

The society is being supported and encouraged by Alternattiva Demokratika, whose chairman Harry Vassallo, was a "catalyst" in its establishment.

AD will be raising funds for the society during a charity event in November.

Labour MPs Karl Chircop and Noel Farrugia and Nationalist MP Michael Gonzi also support the association.

Anyone interested in joining may write to Dr Stephen Montefort, c/o St James Hospital, Zabbar.