46% of global asthma deaths occur in India, time to take asthma seriously: Expert

According to the latest Global Burden of Disease 2021 Report, India contributes to 46 per cent of global asthma deaths. This is up from 43 per cent from the 2019 report

In a recent report, Dr Salvi showed that more than 90 per cent of asthmatics in India do not use inhaled corticosteroids.

An estimated 2,00,000 people die every year due to asthma in India. “If diagnosed early and treated properly, no asthmatic should die because we now have treatments that are so effective and safe that one can lead an almost normal life,” Dr Sundeep Salvi, Pune-based Director of Pulmocare Research and Education (PURE) Foundation and the President of the Indian Chest Society said ahead of the World Asthma Day (May 7).

According to the latest Global Burden of Disease 2021 Report, India contributes to 46 per cent of global asthma deaths. This is up from 43 per cent from the 2019 report.

In a recent report, Dr Salvi showed that more than 90 per cent of asthmatics in India do not use inhaled corticosteroids. Moreover, they take only bronchodilator drugs either orally or by the inhalation route, which cause more suffering and deaths.

“This is likely to be the main reason why India contributes to 46 per cent of global asthma deaths,” Dr Salvi, also a Member of the Scientific Committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) that formulates guidelines for asthma diagnosis, management and prevention told The Indians Express.

Why asthma is poorly diagnosed

Asthma is a genetic disease that runs in families, but is also very strongly triggered by air pollution. It is often associated with allergic rhinitis (runny nose and sneezing), allergic rash or eczema and migraines.

Although breathlessness is a common symptom, cough (both dry, irritating as well as productive of phlegm), chest tightness and wheeze (musical sound coming from the chest) are other common symptoms. Asthmatics often complain of bouts of cough, which is more common at night that keeps them awake and shortness of breath on exertion.

“Diagnosis is made by taking a good history from the patient and the use of a tool called Spirometry, that often confirms the diagnosis of asthma. Children are more commonly affected, and in fact, 50 per cent of asthmatics are children. However, asthma remains very poorly diagnosed in India because of lack of use of Spirometry,” Dr Salvi said.

Inhaled medications is the safest way to treat asthma

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The Global Asthma Network (GAN) Study which was conducted in 20,084 children aged 6-7 years, 25,887 children aged 13-14 years and 81,296 parents from across nine different locations in India, showed that asthma was under-diagnosed in 82 per cent, and even among those who had severe asthma, 70 per cent remained undiagnosed.

“The most effective and safe treatment for asthma is inhaled corticosteroids with or without a bronchodilator given either by a dry powder inhaler or a pressurized metered dose inhaler. These medications prevent death and reduce symptoms, yet in the GAN study only 5 per cent of children and 10 per cent of adults with asthma were using these medications,” Dr Salvi pointed out. The safest, fastest and most effective way to treat asthma is by inhaled medications, stressed Dr Salvi.

Debunking myths important

There are several myths and misbeliefs associated with asthma, that contribute to poor asthma care, such as: asthma is a contagious disease and can spread from one person to another, once you are diagnosed with asthma you are doomed for life, inhaled medications are very powerful and should be completely avoided, you can get addicted to inhalers, and there is no medication that can give you a normal life.

“We must ensure that all asthmatics in India should get an early and correct diagnosis and take the right medication regularly,” Dr Salvi said and explained that if your eyes develop a number, you need to wear glasses, which not only restores eyesight but also prevents your eyes from getting an increased number. “In the same way, if you develop asthma, you need to take your inhaled medications regularly, they are necessary to keep your lungs healthy and will protect your lungs from getting more damaged,” he appealed.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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