This research, commissioned by Sanofi, found that people with uncontrolled asthma are on average financially worse off, earning around £3,000 less per year than the average adult. Beyond the personal impact, the report estimates that every year, the condition is linked to a massive £2 billion loss to the UK economy due to lower pay.

The research also found that patients with the condition are 10% less likely to be in work (52%) than the average person (62%), and that this lower participation in the labour market is linked to an additional £2.5 billion annual loss to the economy.

The report estimates that, every year, uncontrolled asthma in the UK is linked to:

• Taxpayer revenues being £1 billion lower than they otherwise would have been.
• A cost of £200 million to employers due to time off work.
• Direct costs to the UK benefits system of £370 million, primarily through supporting people prevented from working due to asthma.
• Direct costs to the NHS and devolved health services of at least £125 million from around 87,000 emergency hospital admissions from asthma.