Dr Christine Jenkins
Chairman
National Asthma Council (formerly Campaign)

Australia is recognised worldwide as one of the leaders in asthma management and research. However, this 'honour' comes with a price - Australia has one of the highest asthma prevalence rates in the world, ranking in the top three.

Ten years ago, it was a different story. Asthma in Australia was being seriously undermanaged by health professionals and people with asthma. Our death rates were alarmingly high (964 deaths in 1989) and up to 60% of deaths were found to be associated with avoidable factors.¹

Lack of epidemiological data about the prevalence, incidence and severity of asthma in Australia also meant that we did not have a true picture of the problem.

In response to this situation, and thanks to the collaborative efforts of The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the seven Asthma Foundations across Australia, the National Asthma Campaign (NAC) was born. Glaxo Wellcome was the first sponsor of the NAC and I am delighted that they have provided an educational grant for this report as part of` their long-term support for the NAC.

It is gratifying to everyone involved with the NAC over the years that we have been acknowledged by the Federal Government as the leading agency in the field of asthma, providing a unifying direction for all forms of endeavour in asthma.

A fundamental part of the success of the NAC its partner organisations and the highly dedicated individuals who have been involved with the NAC over the last decade, has been the spirit of collaboration. Recognising that asthma is bigger than any of us, everyone has put aside their own interests and worked together for optimal solutions.

Significantly, the number of deaths due to asthma - a key factor in the creation of the NAC - has been reduced from 964 in 1989 to 730 in 1996.

This report seeks to present an overview of asthma in Australia, past, present and future. After a decade of asthma activity we cannot afford to be complacent. We still have a long way to go, both in terms of asthma management and in understanding the complex causes of the disease.

While an emphasis on asthma management issues remains the NAC's priority, current activities are focusing on the issue of adherence. Closely linked to this is prevention - both of attacks and indeed, of the development of asthma in the first place.

We hope that this report succeeds in provoking public discussion of asthma among healthcare professionals, the government, the media, and most importantly, people living with asthma.

DR CHRISTINE JENKINS

Chairman
National Asthma Campaign (formerly Campaign) 1. 1988 Report of NHMRC Working Party on Associated Deaths

Content Updated July, 2001