According to a research Asthma costs NHS £1 billion a year.
The study found there are about 6.4 million GP and nurse consultations for asthma each year.
More than 270 sufferers a day are admitted to hospital.
The researchers said their figures are likely to be “substantial underestimates” because they did not take into account people for whom asthma was not their main illness.
More than 18 million people in the UK are treated for the condition at some stage.
But experts say most asthma deaths are preventable.
Mome Mukherjee, of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, said: “Our study pulled together multiple sources of routinely collected data across the administrative and health and social care sectors of the UK nations.
“Our findings offer the first comprehensive estimates of the burden of asthma in all the four nations of the UK.”
Professor Aziz Sheikh, Director of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Even with conservative assumptions, we find almost 100,000 people are admitted to hospital and there are at least 1000 deaths from asthma each year in the UK.
“This is unacceptable for a condition that, for most people, can be managed effectively with the right support from their GP. Greater focus on primary care is needed if we are to cut rates of severe asthma attacks, hospitalisations and deaths.”
Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: “Despite the fact we’re spending over a billion pounds a year on asthma, many people are still not receiving care that meets even the most basic clinical standards.
“It’s clear this has to change and a different approach is urgently needed.
“We strongly believe new technologies such as smart inhalers are the likely game changer that could reduce asthma attacks and ease the burden on the NHS.
“Supporting people to better manage their asthma with new technologies would likely lead to healthier lifestyles, reducing the need for NHS appointments and admissions and freeing up care for those who need it most.”
The study was published by BMC Medicine journal and was funded by Asthma UK, with additional funding from Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit and The Farr Institute.
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