This website is intended for UK Healthcare Professionals only. Other UK residents please visit astrazeneca.co.uk

Prescribing and adverse event reporting information found at the bottom of the page.

Transforming respiratory conditions in the UK

Respiratory conditions, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, profoundly affect the lives of millions in the UK.¹ COPD and asthma not only affect individual health but also place a significant burden on our healthcare system in the UK.^1,5,8

Many deaths resulting from these diseases are potentially preventable with improved care and management.^2,3

Our respiratory focus areas

We specialise in the two key respiratory areas: COPD and asthma.

copd

It is estimated that COPD affects around 3 million people in the UK and COPD exacerbations are the second most common cause of emergency hospital admission in the UK.^4,5

The breathing problems that are associated with COPD progressively worsen over time and may limit daily activities. However, there are treatment options that can help keep symptoms under control and potentially slow progression.⁶

Explore AstraZeneca’s options for managing COPD:

TRIXEO AEROSPHERE^® (formoterol fumarate dihydrate/ glycopyrronium/budesonide)

BEVESPI^® (glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate)

SYMBICORT^® (budesonide/formoterol) COPD 200/6 and 400/12

Asthma

Over 8 million people in the UK are currently affected by asthma, with around 200,000 people being affected by severe asthma. The condition typically begins in childhood however, asthma can also develop for the first time in adults.^7,8,9

While there is no cure for asthma at present, there are effective treatments available that can help reduce asthma attacks, manage symptoms and minimise its impact on daily life.⁷

Learn more about AstraZeneca’s options for managing asthma:

Across asthma severities:

SYMBICORT^® (budesonide/formoterol) Turbohaler^®

Severe asthma:

TEZSPIRE^®▼(tezepelumab)

FASENRA^® (benralizumab)

The scale of the challenge

The UK is currently facing unprecedented challenges in respiratory care: both asthma and COPD significantly contribute to avoidable mortality, with deprived communities experiencing higher risk of death.^10,11 It is estimated that in the UK around 550,000 people are diagnosed with respiratory diseases every year, half of which are for COPD and asthma.¹² People living in disadvantaged communities are 23% more likely to have uncontrolled asthma and are half as likely to manage their asthma well, compared to the least deprived people.¹³

During the past two decades the rate of hospitalisation for chronic lower respiratory diseases, including COPD and asthma, increased by 55% in England and Wales. Moreover, annual healthcare costs and mortality costs for COPD are expected to increase to £2.32 billion by 2030 in England alone.¹⁴

Urgent action needs to be taken to address these health inequities and help improve outcomes for all patients; it is essential that we support and partner with stakeholders within the NHS, and beyond, to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients.

Our commitment to helping HCPs improve patient outcomes

At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to:

Reducing asthma attacks through better management and treatment
Slowing COPD disease progression and reducing the risk of exacerbations
Supporting early diagnosis to improve long-term outcomes
Empowering healthcare professionals with the latest clinical insights and tools
Addressing health inequalities in respiratory care

Prescribing Information

BEVESPI^®(glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Prescribing Information

FASENRA^®(benralizumab) prescribing information

SYMBICORT^®(budesonide/formoterol) Asthma Prescribing Information
SYMBICORT^®(budesonide/formoterol) COPD 200/6 and 400/12 Prescribing Information
TEZSPIRE^®▼(tezepelumab) Prescribing Information
TRIXEO^®(formoterol fumarate dihydrate/ glycopyrronium/budesonide) Prescribing Information

England NHS. Respiratory disease. [cited 2024 Jul 23]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/respiratory-disease/
Pleasants RA, Riley IL, Mannino DM. Defining and targeting health disparities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2016 Oct 4;11:2475-96.
D’Amato G, Vitale C, Molino A, Stanziola A, Sanduzzi A, Vatrella A, et al. Asthma-related deaths. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2016 Oct 12;11:37.
Prevalence and incidence. [cited 2024 Jul 23]. Available from: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/background-information/prevalence-incidence/
Digital service to manage high-risk chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. NHS Transformation Directorate. [cited 2024 Jul 23]. Available from: https://transform.england.nhs.uk/key-tools-and-info/digital-playbooks/respiratory-digital-playbook/digital-service-to-manage-high-risk-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd-patients/
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). nhs.uk. [cited 2024 Jul 23]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/
Asthma. 2024 [cited 2024 Jul 23]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
Asthma statistics. British Lung Foundation. Available from: https://statistics.blf.org.uk/asthma
Asthma and Lung UK. What is severe asthma? [cited 2024 Aug 15]. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/severe-asthma/what-severe-asthma
Collins PF, Stratton RJ, Kurukulaaratchy RJ, Elia M. Influence of deprivation on health care use, health care costs, and mortality in COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018 Apr 19;13:1289–96.
Alsallakh MA, Rodgers SE, Lyons RA, Sheikh A, Davies GA. Association of socioeconomic deprivation with asthma care, outcomes, and deaths in Wales: A 5-year national linked primary and secondary care cohort study. PLoS Med. 2021 Feb;18(2):e1003497.
NHS RightCare. Public Health England. The 2nd Atlas of variation in risk factors and healthcare for respiratory disease in England. [cited 2024 Aug 13]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/interactive-health-atlas-of-lung-conditions-in-england-inhale-2020-update
Asthma and Lung UK. Breathing unequal - Examining health inequalities and lung conditions. [cited 2024 Aug 13]. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/breathingunequalfinalpdf
Alwafi H, Naser AY, Ashoor DS, et al. Trends in hospital admissions and prescribing due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in England and Wales between 1999 and 2020: an ecological study. BMC Pulm Med. 2023;23(1):49. Published 2023 Feb 2. doi:10.1186/s12890-023-02342-6

GB-70103 | DOP: September 2025

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to AstraZeneca by visiting https://contactazmedical.astrazeneca.com/ or by calling ‌‌‌0‌‌‌8‌‌‌‌‌0‌‌‌‌0‌‌‌ ‌‌7‌‌‌‌‌‌8‌‌‌3‌‌‌ ‌‌0‌‌‌‌‌0‌‌‌‌3‌‌‌‌3‌‌‌.

This website was created for UK HCPs and has been designed to provide information to educate, empower and enable them in the great work they are doing for patients across a range of therapy areas. This website is intended for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in the UK. Other UK residents please visit astrazeneca.co.uk.

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