2 May 2023

For World Asthma Day 2023, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) joined forces to discuss key updates to recommendations about asthma management for adults, adolescents and children in the GINA 2023 strategy report, on the day of its release.

Asthma is a complex disease caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Still to this day it is the most common chronic disease in children and adolescents globally and one of the most common chronic diseases in adults. Recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as both cause and effect of poverty in low- and middle-income countries, it is estimated to affect 339 milion people worldwide.

The webinar also included discussion about how climate change and air pollution can affect asthma patients, and what clinicians can do to select the most appropriate inhaler for their patients. In light of the new Air Quality Directive proposed by the European Commission, this event provided an outlook on what is needed to guarantee a healthier future for patients at national, European and global level.

The webinar is as follows:

• Welcome remarks and Introduction: Arzu Yorgancioglu, ERS Advocacy Council Chair and Chair of GINA; Nicolas Roche, ERS Science Council Chair (10 min)
• Global Initiative for Asthma Strategy report: 2023 update (including environmental issues): Helen Reddel, Chair of GINA Science Committee (20 min)
• Asthma and the environment, an ERS perspective: Zorana J. Andersen, ERS Environment and Health Committee Chair (10 min)
• The patient perspective: Kjeld Hansen, Chair of European Lung Foundation (5 min)
• European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) representative: Fríða Rún Þórðardóttir, Secretary of EFA (5 min)
• Q&A and closing remarks (10 min)

For more information or questions, please email Marta Montanari at ERS.