From the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring

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Asthma remains a significant health problem in Australia, with prevalence and death rates that are high by international standards despite declines, according to a report released in October 2008 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Asthma in Australia 2008, estimates that asthma affects more than 1 in 10 Australians - equivalent to over 2 million people.

Although lower than New Zealand and the UK, asthma death rates in Australia are almost three times the rate in Europe.

Asthma accounted for 402 deaths in Australia in 2006 (Note: latest figure is 385 in 2007 released March 18, 2009) .

The report showed that hospital admission rates for asthma have also declined since 1993-94, by 45% among adults and by 42% among children.

Of particular concern is that:

• Australians with asthma continue to smoke almost as commonly as people without asthma, despite the known adverse effects.
• An estimated 11% of Australian children with asthma live in homes where smoking occurs inside the home.
• The majority of people with asthma do not have a written asthma action plan, even though national guidelines have recommended their use for the past 20 years.
• Asthma is a major problem among Indigenous Australians. Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, they have higher rates of hospitalisation and mortality due to asthma.

To view a copy of the report go to  Asthma in Australia 2008 (http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/acm/aia08/aia08.pdf)

(12.9MB PDF file. Large file warning - recommend "Right click and Save Target As" and save to your hard disk before opening.)

Content Updated 20 October, 2008