Smoke interferes with asthma drug

Asthma affects 5 million Britons

British scientists have found more evidence to show that people with asthma should not smoke.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow say smoking can interfere with asthmatics' medication.

Speaking at a European Respiratory Society conference in Vienna, they said it can increase the risks of breathing problems or an asthma attack.

The researchers said the findings highlight the need to encourage asthmatics who smoke to quit.

Figures suggest that 40% of people with asthma aged between 16 and 44 smoke.

This is much higher than the general population, where 32% of people in this age group smoke.

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Professor Neil Thomson and colleagues based their findings on a study of 50 people with chronic asthma.

These included smokers, ex-smokers and people who never smoked.

This has important implications for people with asthma who smoke Professor Neil Thomson, University of Glasgow

They were divided into two groups. The first group received a daily dose of prednisolone - a steroid tablet used to treat severe asthma - for two weeks. The second group received a dummy or placebo pill.

The researchers found that people who smoked did less well on this drug compared to people who did not smoke.

"We found that people with asthma who smoke have a reduced sensitivity to this form of drug treatment," said Professor Thomson.

"This is a less effective therapy for people with asthma who smoke, as improvements in asthma symptoms and lung function were less than in non-smokers.

"This has important implications for people with asthma who smoke and reinforces the importance of smoking cessation programmes for people with asthma."

Professor Thomson said doctors who treat asthmatics should consider prescribing them other drugs if they smoke.

The National Asthma Campaign, which funded the study, welcomed its findings.

"We already know that active and passive smoking has severe health implications," said Phillipa Major, its assistant director of research.

"This study shows that active smoking can also reduce the effectiveness of asthma treatments, which can lead to more severe symptoms and a lower quality of life."