In celebration of National Lung Month, the Agham Kapihan – a series of media roundtable discussions aimed at highlighting matters of science and health while advocating for innovations that benefit Filipinos – convened experts to emphasize the message that “Every Breath Matters.” Supported by global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, the event brought together doctors to underscore the importance of improving asthma care.
Dr. Guia Limpoco, a family medicine doctor at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and a board trustee of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, defines asthma as a chronic respiratory condition that impacts not only the physical health of those affected but also their emotional, social, and economic well-being, as well as their overall quality of life.
Limpoco highlighted that asthma also poses a significant economic burden and affects relationships within families. At the forum, she emphasized the importance of raising awareness, educating the public, and advocating for better support and understanding of asthma within communities.
Throughout the program, the doctors discussed the reality of asthma in the Philippines, including the challenges faced by patients, families, and healthcare providers. They explored proper asthma management and stressed the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, families, and partners to improve the lives of those living with asthma.
AstraZeneca partnered with the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) to advocate for the Asthma Action Plan, a simple tool recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma to empower patients through guided self-management. In 2023, AstraZeneca also collaborated with the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), and Mercury Drug to launch the Asthma Care Hub, the first in-store, end-to-end healthcare solution for patients with asthma.
In her keynote presentation, Maria Janeth Samson, the current president of the PCCP, cited common asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Citing the burden of asthma in numbers, she noted that an estimated 14 percent of adults have high asthma prevalence, and 13,186 people died from asthma. The condition ranks second among health issues in low- and middle-income countries, with approximately 50 percent of asthma patients inadequately controlled, 98 percent of Filipinos lacking access to outpatient care, and asthma being the seventh most common condition in claims made to the Philippine National Insurance System.
Regarding asthma-related hospitalizations, Samson shared that 31 percent of cases are controlled, 40.5 percent are uncontrolled, and 28.6 percent are partly controlled.
Looking ahead, Samson outlined the preferred treatment for adults and adolescents, explaining that Steps 1 and 2 recommend an as-needed-only low-dose ICS-formoterol reliever (one inhaler, used as needed); Step 3 involves low-dose maintenance and reliever therapy with ICS-formoterol (same inhaler, with one inhalation twice or once daily plus one as needed); and Step 4 features medium-dose maintenance and reliever therapy using low-dose ICS-formoterol (same inhaler, with two inhalations twice daily plus one as needed).
She assured that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are safe for long-term use, with local and systemic side effects that can be minimized. According to Samson, optimizing inhaled therapy is crucial to reducing the need for oral steroids.
As for the Asthma Action Plan, Samson stressed that it ensures patients have the right medication to better control their asthma. The plan, she added, can help them manage their condition and respond to worsening symptoms.
During one of the discussions, the doctors addressed lifestyle changes, emphasizing that individuals must be active to reduce asthma symptoms. They noted that those with a sedentary lifestyle can make changes in their homes, office spaces, and environment to help reduce asthma symptoms.
Limpoco advised that a “healthier lifestyle” should be part of the standard of care.
“It’s very important for us to at least know how motivated the patient is to really stick to the lifestyle change because if the patient is not motivated, it’s very difficult for us to engage them in physical activity or even adhering to eating healthier food,” she said.
“We also have to assess if there has been a change or if the patient is still contemplating it – until the patient is truly motivated to commit to it, it’s a critical and extra challenge for us,” she added.
According to Limpoco, healthcare providers must first understand the context of their patients’ understanding of a healthier lifestyle. After understanding this context, they must assess the means available to the patients to engage in healthier habits. Lastly, family support is essential, as it often takes the whole family to help a sedentary patient with weight management.
Dr. Anna Marie Putulin, president of the Philippine Academy of Pediatric Pulmonologists, emphasized that sedentary young patients should be encouraged to attend school in person, where they will have to climb stairs to reach their classrooms, participate in physical education classes, and spend time outdoors. She also encouraged spontaneous activities such as helping with household chores, fixing their rooms, and engaging in unstructured playtime with friends, rather than using gadgets.
Dr. Cyril Tolosa, medical affairs director of AstraZeneca Philippines, vowed to continue advocating for asthma care equity, driven by the company’s bold ambition to eliminate asthma attacks and achieve clinical remission for all asthma patients. “It will take the entire ecosystem of stakeholders in health – the government, the private sector, patient groups, and, of course, healthcare experts – to change the landscape of asthma care in the country.”
