WORLD ASTHMA DAY - MAY 7, 2002

Nine Canadians die from asthma every week¹

MONTREAL, May 7, 2002 - Today is World Asthma Day, and on this occasion, one of the largest asthma public awareness campaigns ever undertaken in Canada is being launched to educate the public on the seriousness of this disease and the need to better manage it in order to lead a more active and normal life. The public awareness campaign draws attention to the harmful consequences that asthma can have, especially when patients fail to control their disease effectively.

According to a September 2001 report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, entitled Respiratory Diseases in Canada, it is estimated that nine Canadians die from asthma every week. Yet, many of these deaths could be avoided. The report states that the most recent data concerning restrictions on activities, emergency room visits and hospitalizations by asthma patients, indicate that the disease is not well controlled in a majority of those with this condition.

WHY SUCH A STRONG MESSAGE?

"Asthma is a serious disease that too many patients still take lightly. In fact, most asthma patients deny that it is a chronic disease. Instead, they see themselves with an innocent disease characterized by intermittent attacks but do not realize that, when poorly controlled, asthma can have serious or even fatal consequences," explains Dr. Ronald Olivenstein, a respirologist at the Montreal Chest Hospital and the Quebec Lung Association's 2002 campaign spokesperson.

"An estimated six in 10 patients do not achieve good asthma control² when measured against national treatment guidelines -- the Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines. However, there are many tools and resources to help patients better understand how well they may be managing their asthma, such as the 30 second asthma test. The easy-to- take test consists of five questions that enable asthma patients to very quickly determine if their disease is well controlled or not. If you answer "yes" to any of the questions, it means that you are not controlling your asthma well and that you should see your doctor about this, concludes Olivenstein."

According to the Quebec Lung Association, each year, about 20 children and 500 adults die in Canadaas a result of this disease, yet it is felt that most of these deaths could be avoided through proper education and appropriate treatment. A better understanding of the disease would also result in less pressure on the health-care system, as it would reduce the number of emergency room visits by nearly 50%and the number of hospital stays due to this disease by up to 80%. Asthma is, in fact, the main reason for emergency room visits in Canada.

CAMPAIGN AIMED AT THE ENTIRE POPULATION

The campaign, which kicks-off today, will use a variety of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and Montreal's subway system to deliver its message. "I am very proud to be associated with a campaign and a cause that is so very close to my heart. It is clear to me that people should not resign themselves so easily to a lesser quality of life because of asthma," says Sylvie Bernier, an Olympic gold medalist from Quebec who has asthma. "Patients should realize that waking up at night because of asthma is not a normal consequence of the disease and that it is not normal to have to avoid sports and daily activities, or to use a rescue medication four times or more a take action. I therefore invite all people suffering from asthma to take the 30 second asthma test."

INFO-ASTHMA PHONE LINE

In addition to the campaign, asthma patients can also receive support from the Québec Lung Association. Asthma is the leading respiratory disease in Canada. In 1998-1999, some 2.4 million Canadians were diagnosed with asthma, of which 10 to 15% were children. In Quebec, it is estimated that there are 700,000 asthma patients⁴. Each year in Quebec, asthma accounts for approximately 100,000 emergency room visits, 56,000 days of hospitalization, 325,000 lost days of work, 4,000 calls for an ambulance and, sadly, nearly 150 deaths. Asthme costs the health care system an estimated $150 million annually in Quebec 4 .

This is why the Quebec Lung Association set up, three years ago, a free asthma information help line "The Info-Asthma phone line 1-800-295-8111, ext. 232". At this toll-free number, the general public can speak to respiratory health nurses, who will help them better understand and better control the disease and improve their quality of life. The service is available from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Thanks to a collaborative effort between several partners active in the area of respiratory diseases, namely, the Quebec Lung Association, the Réseau québécois de l'asthme et de la MPOC (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), the PRIISME Asthma Program (Programs to Integrate Services and Manage Education), and GlaxoSmithKline Inc., the asthma awareness campaign will be conducted in French and English across Canada.

GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. In Canada, GlaxoSmithKline employs more than 1,800 people and is a top 20 investor in Canadian research and development, contributing more than $100 million annually. The company is also one of the top 10 corporate charitable donors, investing more than $6.5 million annually.

INFORMATION:

Michèle Miville Dechêne

Jasmin & Associés

(514) 878-1070

Marie-Christine Beauchemin

GlaxoSmithKline

Bureau d'affaires du Québec

(514) 738-8886

Notes to the editor

The 30 Second Asthma TestT is available in most pharmacies in Quebec: Uniprix, Brunet / Mac Mahon (a pharmaceutical distributor), the Groupe Jean Coutu, the Groupe Essaim, Santé Services Obonsoins, Pharmaprix and Familiprix. It is also available on the Internet at www.30secondasthmatest.com

References:

1. Respiratory Diseases in Canada. Health Canada, 2001. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb/dgspsp or www.statcan.ca
2. Asthma in Canada: A Landmark Survey, 2000. www.asthmaincanada.com
3. Recommendations of the Canadian Asthma Consensus Conference, CMAJ, 1999.
4. The Quebec Lung Association, 2002. www.pq.lung.ca

The 30 Second Asthma TestT is a trademark, used under license by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.