OBJECTIVES: Over the past few decades the treatment of asthma bronchiale has experienced huge progress. Hospitalizations and emergency visits almost disappeared and majority of patients with severe asthma are active in work and leisure activities. However asthma still presents significant burden on patient’s daily living. Objective of the study was to explore the burden of asthma on everyday life from the patient’s perspective. METHODS: From May till September 2010, 506 patients were enrolled in a prospective 6 months study in the Slovak Republic with moderate and severe persistent asthma. A total of 461 patients returned valid diaries recording everyday asthma related symptoms and use of treatment over period of 3 months. Clinical and treatment data have been recorded by the physician for the period of 6 months.  RESULTS: The mean age of patients is 50 yrs with disease duration of 12 years. Majority of patients are women (71%) and with moderate asthma (88%). Most patients are active at work or study (85%) with 11% disabled and only 4% unemployed. 31% patients have ever experienced a negative impact of asthma on their employment opportunities. The impact of asthma on everyday life is still large. According to patient diaries the patients suffer from asthma symptoms (% of days with symptom of all severities/severe symptoms): any of the monitored symptoms (67/19), dyspnoe (46/8), cough (49/10), wheezing (32/6), limitation of daily activities (37/8), sleep disturbance (30/9), limitation of work activities (25/2.5). The need for medical services such as unscheduled visits (0.53/person year) or hospitalizations (0.036/person year) is less frequent. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate that asthma is still present in most of patient days including the presence of symptoms and impact on  personal and work life of patients. Patient insight is very valuable and should be incorporated more within the routine treatment in order to get asthma under better control.