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NATION'S TOP 100 ASTHMA CAPITALS™ NAMED
Experts Urge Better Understanding to Improve Health

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2004 - From Knoxville to San Francisco, asthma has a significant impact on major cities throughout the United States, according to a new research-based ranking by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), yet most people are not aware of the most common form of asthma - allergic asthma. To educate the public about allergic asthma, AAFA has joined with the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) to develop a new educational campaign, Is Your Asthma Allergic? Know Your IgE.

More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, 60% of whom have allergic asthma; yet, research shows that only half of them are in good control. Recognizing the symptoms and cause of asthma will help asthma patients gain better control of their disease. The Is Your Asthma Allergic? Know Your IgE campaign includes a self-screener and valuable information to help patients understand whether their asthma is allergic, particularly those patients living in the cities where asthma is most prevalent.

"The Asthma Capitals™ list gives us evidence of how prevalent asthma is across the country - a disease that has increased two-fold in the past two decades," said Derek Johnson, MD, Temple University Medical Center. "Despite the rising incidence, we are seeing an alarming amount of uncontrolled asthma, which points to the need for better asthma education."

The first annual Asthma Capitals™ list, developed by AAFA, ranks the top 100 metropolitan areas in the United States, based on a number of factors including:

• Prevalence
• Mortality
• Outdoor air quality
• Smoking laws
• Number of prescriptions
• Number of asthma specialists

From Awareness to Action - the Allergy and Asthma Link
To enable asthma patients to better recognize whether or not they may suffer from allergic asthma, AAAAI has created a simple self-screener, available at www.aaaai.org/allergicasthma or by calling toll-free (800) 822-2762. This tool will help people assess whether they might have allergic asthma and show them how to locate an asthma specialist in their area to learn more about controlling their disease.

"We need to help people with asthma know more about their disease, including recognizing whether or not they have allergic asthma, knowing their triggers and being more aggressive about seeking help from a physician specially trained to treat the disease," said Stanley Goldstein, MD, a Fellow of the AAAAI, director of Allergy and Asthma Care of Long Island and director of Island Medical Research in Rockville Centre, New York.

In individuals with allergic asthma, IgE antibodies are produced by the body following exposure to allergens - such as dust, pet dander, or mold spores - and may cause the release of histamine and other chemicals that trigger the inflammation of the airways, coughing and wheezing of an asthma attack. Further understanding of the role of IgE has led to new approaches in asthma management.

"By using this simple self-screener, patients will be able to recognize whether or not they have allergic asthma and learn more about the role of IgE," said Dr. Goldstein. "Knowing this information is a critical first step in addressing this significant knowledge gap; patients need to take action and seek help from an allergist or immunologist."

Evidence of a Growing Public Health Concern
While asthma is a chronic disease affecting more than 20 million Americans, many people aren't aware of the severity and causes of the disease. In fact, a recently conducted consumer survey by AAFA revealed that only 13% of the general public considers asthma a disease. Moreover, only 37% of asthma sufferers surveyed had heard of allergic asthma when in fact, more than half of all people with asthma have this distinct type (asthma that is triggered by allergens versus irritants, weather changes, viral or sinus infections, exercise, etc.).

Beyond the percentage of asthma sufferers unaware of allergic asthma, nearly all of those surveyed were unaware of a root cause of allergic asthma - an antibody called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, which plays an important role in the allergic cascade that triggers asthma symptoms. Therefore, it is no surprise that 49 percent of asthma sufferers are classified by physicians as having only poor to moderate control. Yet, consider the impact asthma has on Americans:

• 14 million missed days of school each year, making asthma the leading cause of school absenteeism
• 14.5 million missed days of work for adults each year
• 100 million days of restricted physical activity for children and adults each year
• 1.8 million emergency room visits
• $14 billion in medical expenses and indirect costs
• Approximately 5,000 deaths annually

Asthma Capitals™
The Asthma Capitals™ ranking was based on more than 15 sources of state and municipal data and was categorized by risk factors, medical factors, and outcomes. Researchers examined a wide range of data including annual pollen levels, smoking laws, number of asthma medication prescriptions per capita, smoking laws, and morbidity and mortality statistics. Asthma sufferers can obtain a full listing of the Asthma Capitals™ rankings at http://www.asthmacapital.org/templ/display.cfm?id=566. They can also access the self-screener and learn more about allergic asthma and IgE by logging onto www.aaaai.org/allergicasthma.

About AAFA
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading nonprofit consumer and patient organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA provides free information to the public, offers educational programs to consumers and health professionals, leads advocacy efforts to improve patient care, and supports research to find a cure.

About AAAAI

The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information and a physician referral directory through its Web site at www.aaaai.org.

Is Your Asthma Allergic? Know Your IgE is a joint educational initiative from AAFA and AAAAI that is made possible by support from Genentech, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

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