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Asthma is costing the UK health service at least £1.1 billion each year, a new study has confirmed.

Yes despite the huge cost the UK still has one of the highest fatality rates in Europe - with three people dying a day from the condition.

Experts say these deaths are preventable and are calling for more “focus on basic care”.

They say their findings confirm that the UK has one of the highest "burdens of asthma" in the world with asthma affecting one in every 11 people.

The findings are the result of what has been described as “the most comprehensive study of the state of asthma in UK”.

Researchers used anonymous information from out-of-hours care, ambulance, hospital Accident & Emergency records and disability living allowance.

(Image: Getty)

Asthma UK are calling for smart inhalers to be introduced for sufferers who struggle to breathe, to help save lives and cut costs.

The devices would monitor the daily inhaler use of a patients and set up alerts on mobile phones.

Kay Boycott, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, said: “Despite the fact we’re spending over a billion pounds a year on asthma, many people are still not receiving care that meets even the most basic clinical standards.

“It’s clear this has to change and a different approach is urgently needed.

“We strongly believe new technologies such as smart inhalers are the likely game changer that could reduce asthma attacks and ease the burden on the NHS.

“Supporting people to better manage their asthma with new technologies would likely lead to healthier lifestyles, reducing the need for NHS appointments and admissions and freeing up care for those who need it most.”

The Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at The University of Edinburgh,

who carried out the research, found there are around 6.4 million GP and nurse consultations for asthma each year .

Thye also found more than 270 people admitted to hospital each day because of asthma attacks.

(Image: Getty)

Of the total cost of treating asthma in the UK, at least £666 million is spent on prescription costs each year.

Other costs include £160m on GP consultations, £143m on disability claims and £137m on hospital care.

Researchers say their figures are likely to be substantial underestimates because they did not take into account people for whom asthma was not their main illness.

More than 18 million people are treated for the condition at some stage in their lifetime.

Professor Aziz Sheikh, Director of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Even with conservative assumptions, we find almost 100,000 people are admitted to hospital and there are at least 1000 deaths from asthma each year in the UK.

“This is unacceptable for a condition that, for most people, can be managed effectively with the right support from their GP.

“Greater focus on primary care is needed if we are to cut rates of severe asthma attacks, hospitalisations and deaths.”

The study is published in BMC Medicine journal and was funded by Asthma UK,

with additional funding from Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit and The Farr Institute.