Leslie Massey
Asthma is a common long-term lung condition in Australia, affecting around 2.8 million people, or about 11% of the population. It is a chronic condition that affects the airways, causing them to become inflamed and narrowed when exposed to triggers, leading to significant breathing difficulties. While there is currently no cure, asthma can be effectively managed through lifestyle changes and medication. In 2022, it was estimated that 1.8 million people with asthma also had one or more other chronic conditions, highlighting the prevalence of comorbidities among asthmatics. This condition has a significant impact on individuals, their carers, and the Australian health system, with over 31,000 hospitalisations due to asthma in 2022-2023.
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What You'll Learn
About 2.8 million Australians have asthma
Asthma is a long-term lung condition that affects about 2.8 million people in Australia, or about 11% of the population. It is a common chronic condition in children, with about 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 16 girls under 15 years of age having asthma. The condition can have a significant impact on individuals, their carers, and the country's health system. In 2022-2023, there were over 31,000 hospitalisations where asthma was the main diagnosis, with almost half (43%) of these cases involving children aged 14 or under.
Asthma is characterised by sensitive airways that become inflamed when exposed to triggers. This inflammation leads to narrowing airways, causing significant breathing difficulties and persistent symptoms. While there is currently no cure for asthma, it can be managed through lifestyle changes and medications. The National Asthma Council Australia recommends that individuals with asthma have a written action plan detailing instructions on how to respond to worsening asthma symptoms. However, fewer than one in five people over the age of 15 have such a plan.
The impact of asthma varies, with people experiencing different levels of severity and control over their condition. In 2021-2022, there were 25,500 hospitalisations with asthma as the principal diagnosis, representing 0.2% of all hospitalisations in Australia. Over 90% of asthma hospitalisations were deemed potentially avoidable with optimised care in the community. Additionally, asthma has been associated with higher death rates among individuals in remote or lower socioeconomic areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Asthma also has a significant impact on the quality of life of those affected. Individuals with asthma are more likely to report a poor quality of life, particularly those with severe or poorly controlled asthma. Furthermore, around 1.8 million people living with asthma in Australia also have one or more other chronic conditions, with mental and behavioural conditions, back problems, and arthritis being the most common comorbidities.
The condition also varies in prevalence across different demographic groups. For instance, people living in areas of disadvantage have higher rates of asthma (13.2%) compared to those in more advantaged areas (10.2%). Similarly, individuals with disabilities have a higher prevalence of asthma (17.0%) than those without (8.0%). Smoking status also appears to be a factor, with higher rates of daily smoking among adults with asthma (14.1%) compared to those without (8.0%).
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Asthma death rates
Asthma is a long-term lung condition that affects the airways. There is currently no cure, but it can be managed. People with asthma have sensitive airways that become inflamed when exposed to triggers. This inflammation causes breathing difficulties and can lead to a medical emergency.
In Australia, nearly 2.8 million people, or about 11% of the population, have asthma. It is a common chronic condition in children, with about 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 16 girls under 15 years of age suffering from the condition. In 2022-2023, there were over 31,000 hospitalisations where asthma was the primary diagnosis, with almost half (43%) of these cases involving children aged 14 or younger.
Socioeconomic status also plays a role in asthma-related deaths. In 2022, the mortality rate was higher for people living in areas of most disadvantage (2.0 per 100,000 population) compared to those in areas of least disadvantage (1.1 per 100,000 population). Additionally, asthma death rates are generally higher for people living in remote or lower socioeconomic areas, and this trend is also observed among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) was established in 1989 due to the high number of asthma-related deaths at that time. Through various initiatives, the NAC has successfully reduced asthma-related deaths dramatically. In 1989, asthma-related deaths peaked at 964, while in 2019, asthma caused the deaths of 421 Australians. Similarly, in 2018, asthma was responsible for 395 deaths, and in 2023, there were 474 asthma-related deaths reported.
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Asthma treatment and management
Asthma is a common chronic condition in Australia, affecting about 11% of the population, or nearly 2.8 million people. It is a long-term lung condition characterised by sensitive airways that become inflamed when exposed to triggers. While there is currently no cure for asthma, effective treatments and management strategies can help control symptoms and improve quality of life.
Treatment for asthma typically involves medications and inhalers to prevent and relieve symptoms. Quick-relief medicines, also known as relievers, are used during asthma attacks to ease symptoms. These include inhaled short-acting beta2-agonists (SABAs), which open the airways, and oral corticosteroids, which reduce swelling in the airways. For those who experience side effects from SABAs, short-acting anticholinergics are another option for quickly opening the airways.
In addition to quick-relief medicines, long-term control medicines are prescribed to prevent asthma attacks and control symptoms. Corticosteroids, for example, are controller medicines that reduce inflammation in the body. They can be taken as pills or inhaled. However, it is important to note that the pill form may have more serious side effects and higher doses over time can increase the risk of cataracts or osteoporosis.
The National Asthma Council Australia recommends that individuals with asthma have their own written action plan. This plan outlines instructions on how to manage asthma symptoms and can be created in collaboration with a healthcare provider. Unfortunately, fewer than one in five people over the age of 15 have such a plan, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
It is also important to address lifestyle factors that can impact asthma. For instance, smoking is prevalent among adults with asthma, with one in seven daily smokers and one in three ex-smokers. The American Lung Association encourages individuals with asthma who smoke to make a plan to quit. Additionally, workplaces can sometimes trigger asthma symptoms, so it is crucial to be aware of potential triggers in the environment.
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Asthma in children
Asthma is a common chronic condition in children in Australia, with about 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 16 girls under 15 years having asthma. In 2017-2018, an estimated 10% (around 460,000) of Australian children aged 0-14 had asthma as a long-term condition. Asthma was more common among boys aged 0-14 years (12%) compared with girls (7.9%). The prevalence of asthma among children aged 0-14 was similar to the general population (11%). Asthma prevalence is based on a doctor or nurse's diagnosis.
The underlying causes of asthma are still not well understood, but several triggers have been identified, including viral infections, exposure to specific allergens, irritants, exercise, some chemical or food additives, and genetic factors. Tobacco smoke is a common irritant, and children exposed to second-hand smoke at home or through maternal smoking during pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing asthma. The prevalence of asthma is higher in children living in households with smokers. Experiences such as returning to school can also cause an asthma flare-up due to stress, allergens, or exposure to viruses from classmates.
Asthma in young children is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and doctor visits in Australia. It can be frightening for parents and carers, but with proper knowledge and management, a child's asthma can usually be well-controlled. The Australian Asthma Handbook provides guidelines for children aged 1-5 and 6-11 years old, recommending spirometry or a treatment trial for children unable to undergo spirometry to support an asthma diagnosis. Low-dose inhaled corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for most children with asthma who need preventer treatment. It is important to note that children are not small adults, and adult asthma treatments do not apply to them.
According to the National Asthma Council Australia, all individuals with asthma should have a written asthma action plan outlining instructions for when symptoms worsen. This is especially crucial for children, with almost half of them using asthma medication. However, only one in three people with asthma had a written action plan.
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Asthma comorbidities
In 2022, around 2.8 million people in Australia were living with asthma, representing about 11% of the population. This figure has remained steady over the last decade, with 10.2% of the population affected in 2011-12. Asthma is a long-term lung condition caused by the narrowing of the airways when they become inflamed. People with asthma experience wheezing, coughing, breathlessness, and chest tightness. The condition can usually be managed through medication and a healthy lifestyle.
Asthma is a chronic condition that can lead to significant comorbidities, particularly in older people. Comorbidities refer to the presence of one or more additional diseases or conditions in an individual who already has a primary condition. In the case of asthma, it often co-occurs with other respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. However, it is important to note that asthma has distinct diagnostic and treatment protocols.
The top three comorbidities associated with asthma are mental and behavioural conditions (41%), back problems (25%), and arthritis (23%). Additionally, patients repeatedly exposed to steroids, a common treatment for asthma, have an increased risk of osteoporosis (OR 1.95) and sleep apnoea (OR 1.78).
The presence of comorbidities adds to the burden of asthma, impacting individuals' daily lives, careers, and relationships. It also results in higher healthcare costs. The emotional and psychological toll of asthma, even in mild or moderate cases, is significant, with high rates of depression and anxiety reported.
Indigenous Australians are nearly twice as likely to report having asthma compared to non-Indigenous populations. Additionally, asthma death rates are higher for Indigenous Australians, people living in remote areas, and those in lower socioeconomic regions. Addressing these disparities and improving asthma management are crucial areas of focus for asthma-related organizations in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that around 2.8 million people, or 11% of the population, have asthma in Australia.
According to a source, only one in three people with asthma had a written action plan. Another source states that fewer than one in five people over the age of 15 have a written asthma action plan.
In 2021-22, there were 38,000 hospitalisations with a principal or additional diagnosis of asthma. In 2022-23, there were over 31,000 hospitalisations where asthma was the main diagnosis.
