New analysis from a leading respiratory charity indicates women are almost twice as likely as men to die from asthma attacks in Scotland, as they call for urgent research funding.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, a charity supporting everyone with a lung condition, has found women are around 1.7 times more likely to die from an asthma attack than men.

Last December, Public Health Scotland reported that 49 people per 100,000 were hospitalised for asthma at least once in 2020/2021, lower than pre-pandemic rates.

Using data from 2016-2020, Asthma + Lung UK estimates that more than two thirds of people who died from asthma-related conditions in the last five years in Scotland were women: 407 compared to 177 men.

Ms Mome Mukherjee, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute with interests in asthma prevention and care, said:

“There is not enough research into why women are more likely to be hospitalised and die from asthma and what treatments new and existing, could help women.”

The findings from Asthma + Lung UK reveal that rates of admission to hospital are similar in childhood but between the ages of 20-49 years, women are nearly three times more likely to be admitted to hospital.

More research is needed into the social and physiological factors at play, but the charity says hormone fluctuations - during puberty, periods, pregnancy, and peri-menopause - may trigger asthma attacks.

The charity estimates as many as 201,000 women in Scotland have asthma, and are launching a larger report, Asthma is Worse for Women, into this inequality.

When it comes to research funding, the charity says that women continually “draw the short straw” and more investment is necessary to avoid needless deaths.

Sarah Woolnough, CEO Asthma + Lung UK, said:

“Gaps in our knowledge are failing women, leaving them struggling with debilitating asthma symptoms, stuck in a cycle of being in and out of hospital and in some cases, losing their lives.”

For now, Asthma + Lung UK says the best way to protect from asthma triggers is to use preventer medicines, like inhalers, as prescribed.

They add that people can keep a symptom diary to help identify their won triggers and attend an asthma review at least once a year to review medicines and update your asthma action plan.

Read more: Fears over covid-19 impact on Scotland's lung health; Health poverty hits children halfway through pregnancy; Research strategy for Scotland's NHS