Respiratory diseases costs the country more than $8 billion each year.

New research has found more Kiwis are suffering than previously thought, with around one million people affected by the disease annually.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Chief Executive Letitia Harding says the financial burden is huge.

"We base all of this on our prescriptions, our hospitalisations, time off work, school days lost - because then you have parents who take time off as well - a lot of factors go into this."

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