Hjalte F, Gustafsson A
Sjukdomsbördan vid astma i Sverige – en enkätstudie om resurskonsumtion, livskvalitet och vårdupplevelse
The report is written in Swedish with a summary in English
Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions in Sweden, affecting around 10 percent of the population. For most people, symptoms are mild to moderate, but the disease can fluctuate over time. For a smaller proportion of patients, asthma is severe, with symptoms that can substantially disrupt everyday life.
Asthma treatment aims to achieve and maintain symptom control, prevent exacerbations, and minimise treatment-related adverse effects. Despite this, previous studies have shown that only 30–40 percent of patients achieve adequate asthma control.
To address this gap, a web-based survey was conducted in autumn 2025 to examine the burden of asthma in Sweden and identify barriers to achieving good disease control. The survey included 1,365 adults with asthma. Of these, 30 percent had well-controlled asthma, while the remainder had not well controlled or very poorly controlled disease.
The findings show that asthma is associated with a substantial burden, which increases as asthma control worsens. The mean annual societal cost was estimated at just over SEK 52,000 per person (2025 prices). Around one quarter of this cost was due to direct healthcare use, while the majority was driven by productivity losses. Presenteeism accounted for the largest share of indirect costs, indicating that most of the societal burden arises outside the healthcare system. Costs increased markedly with poorer asthma control.
Beyond the economic impact, poorer asthma control was clearly associated with lower health-related quality of life. Individuals with well-controlled asthma reported a mean EQ-5D value of 0.918, comparable to—or slightly higher than—that of the general Swedish population. This suggests that well-controlled asthma can be compatible with near-normal quality of life. These findings are consistent with previous research linking poorer asthma control and greater disease severity to reduced quality of life.
Several barriers to good asthma control were identified. Nearly half of respondents reported not being invited to regular follow-up in healthcare. Many also reported uncertainty about when to seek care or difficulties obtaining appointments, while a smaller proportion felt they received insufficient support. At the same time, most participants—including those with poorly or very poorly controlled asthma—reported taking their medication as prescribed. This indicates that poor asthma control cannot be explained by lack of treatment adherence alone.
Overall, the results show that asthma imposes a substantial burden in Sweden that extends well beyond direct healthcare costs. Good asthma control is closely linked to both lower societal costs and better quality of life, underscoring the importance of structured follow-up, continuity of care, and clear guidance to support effective self-management among people with asthma.
For more information please contact Frida Hjalte
IHE RAPPORT 2026:3, IHE: Lund
Cite: Hjalte F, Gustafsson A. Sjukdomsbördan vid astma i Sverige – en enkätstudie om resurskonsumtion, livskvalitet och vårdupplevelse. IHE RAPPORT 2026:3, IHE: Lund.
