| Asthma in Australia |
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Over 2.2 million Australians have currently diagnosed asthma.1
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The prevalence of asthma in Australia is relatively high, by international standards:1
- 14-16% of children (one in six)
- 10-12% of adults (one in nine)
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More boys than girls have asthma. However, after teenage years, asthma is more common in women than in men.1
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Asthma is more common among Indigenous Australians, particularly adults, than among other Australians.1
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There is a strong link between asthma and allergy: more than 80%of people with asthma have evidence of allergic sensitisation.2
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Atopy is strongly associated with asthma that persists beyond the first 6 years of life.3,4
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The presence of other allergic disorders (eczema or allergic rhinitis) or parental history of atopy are risk factors for persistent asthma at 6 years.5
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Atopy is also a risk factor for hospitalisation for asthma, as are frequent respiratory symptoms, airway hyperresponsiveness and reduced lung function.6
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Children aged 0 to 4 years are the group that most commonly visits general practitioners or emergency departments or is hospitalised for asthma.1
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Among pre-school and primary age children, rates of hospital visits for asthma are highest in February.1
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Around 40% of children who have asthma live with smokers and are likely to be exposed to passive smoke.1
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Despite the known additional health risks, just as many people with asthma smoke as people without asthma.1
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People with asthma report poorer general health and quality of life than people without asthma.1
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More people with asthma suffer from anxiety and depression than people without asthma.1
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A greater proportion of people with asthma had days away from work or study in the last two weeks (11.4%) than people without asthma (7.9%) preceding a survey.1
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Poorly controlled asthma restricts participation in normal physical and social activities.7
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The risk of dying from asthma is highest in the elderly; however, asthma deaths occur in all age groups.1
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In 2005, 318 people died from asthma - the latest figures.8
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Asthma deaths are more common among those living in less well-off localities in Australia.1
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However, education, together with self-monitoring, appropriate drug therapy, regular medical review and an written asthma action plan, reduces morbidity and mortality.7,9
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Most people with asthma lead normal lives and can participate competitively in sport. Many of Australia's leading sportsmen and women have asthma.7
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