The burden of bronchial asthma in Vietnam
At the scientific workshop "Reponding to World Respiratory Day 2025" organized by the Vietnam Respiratory Association and GSK Vietnam, Prof. Dr. Ngo Quy Chau, Chairman of the Vietnam Respiratory Association, said that bronchial asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. In Vietnam, about 3.9% of the population is infected, equivalent to nearly 4 million people. Worryingly, each year, 3,000 to 4,000 people die from asthma.
Dr.BS. Le Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Department of Respiratory Affairs, Gia Dinh People's Hospital - said: "People with asthma are at a 24-4% higher risk of shingles, the risk of post-arytical neuralgia complications increases by 20%, and the risk of shingles in the eyes is 90% higher than people without asthma".
Personalize treatment
Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Thu Phuong - Director of the Respiratory Center, Bach Mai Hospital - emphasized that asthma treatment needs to be comprehensively implemented, combining drugs with symptom control, elimination of risk factors and management of co-morbidity. Most patients are left out of diagnosis due to not knowing the disease, not accepting the diagnosis, and in addition, because medical staff have not yet grasped new information about asthma in a timely manner, they have mistakenly diagnosed and overused canker sores.
emphysema management and prevention still face many challenges. emphysema weakens the immune system, creating conditions for viruses such as influenza or Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) - the cause of shingles - to attack. Good control of asthma will reduce complications, reduce mortality and contribute to reducing pressure on the health system.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Le Khac Bao - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, the personalized treatment method is the key to improving treatment effectiveness. This approach includes assessing the characteristics of each patient, monitoring compliance with treatment, and enhancing education for patients and medical staff. Preventive strategies such as vaccination, especially for asthma patients - a group at high risk of infection with infectious diseases - are identified as a key measure to help reduce acute asthma attacks, maintain lung function and improve quality of life.
