Asthma rising among 'generation rent' as damp and mould boost emergency hospital visits, experts say

“Generation rent” is suffering worsening levels of asthma because of the deteriorating quality of housing, a new report suggests.

A survey of 10,000 sufferers found that “millennials” - those aged between 18 and 29 - are now twice as likely to be hospitalised as a result of the respiratory condition than those in their 60s.

Experts at Asthma UK, who compiled the report, said younger people with asthma are now at greater risk because of increased difficulties finding good-quality housing without mould and damp problems.

Figures from the charity indicate a deteriorating picture for millennial asthma sufferers, of whom only 25 per cent where receiving basic care in 2016, rising to 33 per cent last year.

The body said that difficulty seeing a GP was also contributing to a shortage of adequate care across Britain’s eight million patients, with two thirds of deaths from the condition judged to have been preventable.

Of those aged between 18 and 29, Some 88 per cent had uncontrolled asthma, such as having symptoms that made sleeping difficult or experiencing symptoms such as breathlessness regularly.

Meanwhile a third had received emergency or unplanned care in the last year, compared with 17 per cent of those aged 60 to 69, 16 per cent of those aged 70 to 79, and 15 per cent of those aged 80 and over.

Almost a third - 28 per cent - of millennials with asthma did not attend their asthma review while 12 per cent  said their GP surgery was too busy.

Nearly six in ten said they did not receive a reminder that their review was due.

Dr Samantha Walker, Asthma UK's director of research and policy, said: "Millennials are getting a raw deal, with the worst asthma care of any age group.

"As a result, thousands needed emergency care for their asthma last year and were at risk of dying from an asthma attack.

"This could be avoided if they received the basic care they should be getting and if they were better engaged to manage their own health."