Many Young Adults with Asthma Aren't Completely Prepped to Transition to Adult Asthma Care

Young adults with asthma were recently surveyed on their preparation of the transition to adult asthma care. Half of all those surveyed did not remember being introduced to concepts of transitioning care, including asthma self-management, by their pediatric asthma provider. Only 17% said they’d received information about an adult provider to whom they should transfer their care.

This study, which was constructed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), reveals that most young adults surveyed did not receive sufficient transition preparation from their pediatric asthma providers.

Surveyed were 46 young adults with asthma between the ages of 18 to 30-years-old. Nineteen of the participants were recruited from a pediatric hospital and 27 were recruited from a university as a student or member of staff.

Participants from the pediatric hospital received their care from an asthma specialist, while the majority of those in the university survey setting received their care from a general provider, according to an ACAAI release.

“Teens who are about to go off to college are at an ideal stage to discuss transition issues,” allergist William Anderson, MD, ACAAI member and author on the study, said in the release. “They are entering a new era, possibly in a different part of the country, and may be making their own healthcare decisions for the first time. Introducing concepts about self-care in terms of what will be changing in their lives and what they need to take responsibility for can help them control their asthma symptoms as they begin their journey into adulthood.”

Asthma is not curable, but is something that can be controlled, according to the release. Many asthma sufferers don’t know that allergists are specially trained to diagnose, treat and manage asthma symptoms. They can also create targeted and specialized asthma plans to keep asthma symptoms under control.

While it is encouraged to meet and communicate with an allergist about where you stand with your asthma, further information can be found through the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute.