April 2008
Asthma deaths rise in
older Australians
Popular spirometry handbook updated
World
Asthma Day is May 6, 2008
Living with Asthma & Allergy
– free NAC mini-mag out now
Autumn mite trigger asthma
Asthma and free
radical pollution
Research Funding Opportunities
The Asthma
Foundation of Queensland PhD Scholarship
Asthma Foundation of Queensland Research
Grants for 2009
Conference Diary
Asthma deaths rise
in older Australians
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
shows that the Australian asthma death toll jumped
in 2006, with an additional 84 deaths being recorded
compared to 2005 data.
The total number of deaths attributed to asthma
in Australia in 2006 was 402.
The greatest increase in deaths occurred in the
70 plus age bracket, with 273 deaths recorded,
compared with 191 in 2005.
This is an alarming trend that was identified by
the National Asthma Council Australia in 2005 and
one that it warns will only increase in line with
our ageing population unless health professionals,
carers and older people themselves take the threat
seriously.
“The increasing rate of asthma deaths amongst our
ageing population was recognised by Australian
experts in 2005 and a conference was held to
determine what steps needed to be done to minimise
asthma mortality in this older group,” said
Professor John Wilson, National Asthma Council
Australia chairman.
“The National Asthma Council
responded by publishing new guidelines for the
management of asthma in the elderly in its Asthma
Management Handbook 20061.
“It is important to note that these
new statistics are actually more than one year old
and we are experiencing a lag between the
introduction of new guidelines and the availability
of up to date data. There can also be confusion over
the actual cause of death with asthma often
co-existing with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease.”
Prof Wilson points to smoking as a
major contributing factor of lung disease in the 70
plus population and suggests that many deaths
recorded as asthma may in fact be attributed to
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
“It is well recognised that as many
as 60 per cent of people with asthma are current or
past smokers and are at risk of COPD – the older
they are, the greater risk.
“It is essential that the effect of
smoking is recognised in this older high risk group
and that the overlap between asthma and Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is understood,” Prof
Wilson said.
“These new figures reinforce the
need for increased vigilance, particularly amongst
health professionals and family carers responsible
for the health and well-being of our elderly,” he
urged.
Over two million Australians have
asthma – one of the highest rates in the world.
Though each death from asthma is a
tragedy, it is important to consider the increase in
asthma deaths in perspective. Death due to asthma
remains uncommon, and the proportion of deaths due
to asthma was 0.3% in 2006 compared to 0.4% in 1997.
Also, few children or young people now die from
asthma, indicating an enormous improvement in the
management of asthma in this age group.
Asthma deaths in Australia have
dropped from a peak of 964 in 1989 to the latest
toll of 402 in 2006.
Asthma cannot be cured - but it can
be controlled.
Reference
1.
Asthma in the elderly, Asthma Management Handbook
2006.
Popular spirometry handbook updated
 One of the National Asthma Council
Australia’s most referenced health
professional resources – Spirometry:
The Measurement and Interpretation of
Ventilatory Function in Clinical
Practice – has been revised and is
now available for free download at
http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/html/management/spiro_book/index.asp.
Only the gold standard, Asthma
Management Handbook 2006, is accessed
more frequently than the Spirometry
handbook, authored by Assoc Prof David
Johns and Prof Rob Pierce and first
published in 1995.
Now in its third edition, the
Spirometry handbook has been completely
updated to reflect new international
standards and mirror the updated content
that was published in the Asthma
Management Handbook 2006.
According to author, Assoc Prof David
Johns, respiratory scientist and
Principle Research Fellow, Menzies
Research Institute, the changes relate
to the equipment used, patient
procedures and updated reference values.
He said: “Spirometry is an important
screening test to detect and quantify
lung diseases such as asthma and COPD.
It is also a valuable tool to monitor
patient progress, but the repeatability
of the test is critical to ensure truly
comparative results.
“The changes to the new edition of
the handbook focus on maximising the
repeatability of the test through the
optimum use of accurately calibrated
equipment and appropriate
patient-related procedures that
encourage maximum patient effort.
“The aim is quality spirometry, every
time.” Prof Johns stressed.
The spirometry reference values
utilised in the handbook have also been
updated, in line with the current
edition of the Asthma Management
Handbook, to provide the most recent
data available and are clearly detailed
in a series of tables.
The updated handbook, Spirometry: The
Measurement and Interpretation of
Ventilatory Function in Clinical
Practice, has been written as an
introductory guide for those involved in
the performance and interpretation of
spirometry in clinical practice.
It is pre-reading for health
professionals participating in the
National Asthma Council Australia’s new
spirometry training course and will be a
valuable refresher resource for health
professionals who have already
undertaken spirometry training.
Resource
Spirometry:
The Measurement and Interpretation of
Ventilatory Function in Clinical
Practice
World
Asthma Day is May 6, 2008
 Got asthma? You need a plan!
Tuesday May 6, 2008 is World Asthma Day
and the National Asthma Council Australia is
urging the two million plus Australians with
asthma to prepare, or update, their asthma
action plans.
According to National Asthma Council
Australia chairman, Professor John Wilson,
asthma prevalence in this country is
relatively high but we can minimise its
impact through greater awareness and
understanding.
“The theme of World Asthma Day this year
is ‘you can control your asthma’ and, the
best way to control asthma is to have an
up-to-date written asthma action plan,” Prof
Wilson said.
These written instructions help people
with asthma, as well as their family, carers
and neighbours, recognise how to tell if
asthma symptoms are getting worse, and what
action to take.
“Research shows that written action plans
keep people with asthma in control of their
condition. They are better equipped to
recognise deterioration of their symptoms
and can respond appropriately,” Prof Wilson
said.
Unfortunately, many Australians with
asthma do not have a written asthma action
plan, despite evidence that shows that
asthma self-management programs that involve
a written action plan have a greater
reduction in hospitalisation than those that
do not.1
“People who have a written action plan
have better controlled asthma, fewer asthma
symptoms and fewer days off work or school
because of asthma.
“In the same way that daylight savings
signals the time to change your smoke alarm
battery, World Asthma Day is the time to
make a resolution to consult your GP and
prepare a written plan, or if you already
have a plan, make sure it is up-to-date,”
Prof Wilson urged.
Poorly managed asthma can be fatal.
According to the latest statistics, 402
Australians died from asthma in 2006.
“There is no cure for asthma, but asthma
deaths are preventable - we just need to
continue to take it seriously.”
Sample asthma action plans can be
downloaded from the National Asthma Council
Australia website:
www.nationalasthma.org.au/html/management/action_plans/ap005.asp
Reference
1. Gibson, P. G., J.
Coughlan, et al. (2000). "Self-management
education and regular practitioner review
for adults with asthma." (2): CD001117.
Living with
Asthma & Allergy – free NAC mini-mag out now
 The
National Asthma Council Australia, in conjunction
with Better Homes and Gardens, has produced a new
mini-magazine packed full of tips and advice for
people with asthma and allergy.
The new 30 page mini-mag, titled Living
with asthma & allergy, is available as a
free add-on bonus with the May 2008 issue of Better
Homes and Gardens.
It contains comprehensive information on the
symptoms and triggers of both asthma and allergy, as
well as advice on how to manage these conditions and
the benefits of having an up-to-date written asthma
action plan. The popular ‘First Aid For Asthma'
chart is reprinted inside the back cover, providing
quick access to clear advice if an asthma emergency
arises.
Respected NAC and Australasian Society of
Clinical Immunology and Allergy publications form
the basis of the medical content, which was
developed in consultation with general practice,
pharmacy, allergy and respiratory experts.
The new mini-mag also showcases the growing range
of Sensitive Choice registered products, which have
been reviewed by the NAC’s product advisory panel.
The Sensitive Choice program aims to help
Australians and New Zealanders with asthma and
allergies make better lifestyle choices. Developed
by the NAC in response to consumer demand, the
Sensitive Choice program encourages manufacturers to
be asthma and allergy aware. The Asthma and
Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand is the NAC’s
valued partner in this program
Accepted products are allowed to feature the
Sensitive Choice blue butterfly logo on packaging
and advertising. The blue butterfly logo helps
consumers easily identify products and services that
may reduce asthma and allergy triggers.
The mini-mag Living with asthma & allergy
is available in full on the Sensitive Choice
website:
www.sensitivechoice.com.au
Autumn mite trigger
asthma
 As the
leaves fall, the dust mite population in
your bedroom could well be on the rise.
Research from Sydney’s Woolcock Institute
of Medical Research shows that dust mite
levels can increase 2-3 fold during late
autumn, compared with summer levels.1
According to National Asthma Council
Australia director, Dr Janet Rimmer, a
respiratory physician and allergist, that’s
bad news for the vast numbers of Aussies
with dust-mite triggered allergy or asthma.
She said: “Around 45 per cent of the
population have an allergy and of those
people, almost 80 per cent react to dust
mites.
“Dust mites are the most common trigger
for asthma in Australia and the bedroom is
the site of the greatest exposure.”
House dust mites are microscopic
creatures that feed off human skin scales.
They are mostly found in the home and
live in soft furnishings such as beds,
bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture,
soft toys and clothing.
Dust mites thrive in temperate and humid climates
and the research indicates a link between the change
of weather and the dust mite population explosion,
which appears to occur approximately two months
after a damp, humid Autumnal spell.
For people with dust mite triggered allergy or
asthma, Dr Rimmer recommends a number of dust mite
avoidance measures, which may take time, but are
potentially helpful.
Typical control measures include:
- washing sheets and pillow cases weekly in
water hotter than 55oC;
- covering mattress, pillow and quilt with
dust mite resistant covers, which must be washed
every two months;
- removing soft toys or hot washing them
weekly or freezing them overnight;
- dusting hard floors and surfaces with a damp
or electrostatic cloth; and,
- cleaning carpets weekly using a vacuum
cleaner with a HEPA filter.
“Dust mites and the allergen they leave behind
are extremely hard to eliminate, but people who are
strenuously motivated to remove the allergen from
their homes do say that it makes a difference,” Dr
Rimmer said.
“It’s important to remember that dust mite
allergy is a perennial problem and dust mite control
measures need to be adhered to year round – not just
in Autumn,” she warned.
Comprehensive dust mite control advice can be
found on the National Asthma Council Australia
website2.
Reference
1. D.
Crisafulli, C. Almqvist, G. Marks, E. Tovey
(2007) Seasonal trends in house dust mite
allergen in children’s beds over a 7-year
period Allergy 62 (12) , 1394–1400
2. How can you avoid allergens? Asthma and
Allergy: What you need to know.
(http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/HTML/management/infopapers/consumer/1004.asp)
Asthma and free radical pollution
 Free
radical pollution in the air could be a cause of
asthma, suggests Ms Duanne Sigmund, from the ARC
Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and
Biotechnology.
In new research Sigmund and Dr Uta Wille,
chemists at the University of Melbourne, have
discovered that the atmospheric nitrate radical
irreversibly damages amino acids, which are the
building blocks for proteins in the human body.
This, they suggest, could be a cause of some
respiratory diseases.
The nitrate radical is formed by two common
atmospheric pollutants nitrogen dioxide, which
itself is emitted from car exhausts, and ozone,
which is an important greenhouse gas that is harmful
to humans. During the day the sun's UV radiation
breaks down the nitrate radicals, but the
concentrations rise as soon as the sun goes down.
"We were very interested to see what these
nitrate radicals do to the human body since we
breath them in at night," said Sigmund.
The researchers have found that the nitrate
radical reacts with amino acids to form compounds
such as beta-nitrate esters, beta-carbonyl, and
aromatic nitro-compounds. Some of these compounds
have been associated with increased immune response
in some respiratory diseases, creating worse
symptoms.
"Our results suggest that the nitrate radical
could be a real culprit for respiratory diseases,
yet until this study the nitrate radical has been
previously entirely overlooked in regard to causes
for diseases such as asthma", said Sigmund.
"We are now focusing our research on the cell
membrane, to see if these radicals can migrate
inside and cause damage to cells," added Wille. "If
this is found to be significant, then health
researchers might have to factor in the role of the
nitrate radical when examining other respiratory
diseases."
Resource
Asthma and Air Pollution: How you can reduce
exposure - consumer brochure
Asthma and Air Pollution: A guide for health professionals
Research Funding Opportunities
| The National Asthma Council Australia would be
pleased to list funding opportunities that may be available for
asthma research. Submit brief details for consideration by email to
editor@nationalasthma.com.au. |
The Asthma Foundation of Queensland
PhD Scholarship
for Eligible Medical, Scientific, Nursing & Pharmacy
Graduates and equivalently qualified Allied Health
Practitioners Commencing 2009
Applications are invited for the Asthma
Foundation of Queensland PhD Scholarship open to
eligible medical, scientific, nursing and pharmacy
graduates and equivalently qualified allied health
practitioners (eg psychologists, physiotherapists,
asthma educators, etc) who plan to commence a PhD in
2009. The scholarship will provide financial support
for a graduate looking to build a career in research
relevant to asthma.
The research must be undertaken in Queensland.
The scholarship is open to Australian citizens or
permanent residents intending to nurture a career in
Queensland, and will be for a period of up to three
years, with the stipend and allowances based upon
NHMRC rates. Further information and application
forms are available for downloading at the
foundation’s website at
www.asthmaqld.org.au or from:
The Managing Director
The Asthma Foundation of Queensland
PO Box 394
Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
Email: info@asthmaqld.org.au
Ph:
(07) 3252 7677 or 1800 645 130 Fx: 07 3257 1080
Applications close on 30 June 2008
Asthma Foundation of Queensland
Research Grants for 2009
Funds available up to $250,000
Applications are invited for grants in research relating to
asthma. The research, which must be undertaken in Queensland, may be in either
basic medical sciences or clinical fields.
Grants will be awarded only to individuals and to institutions
with access to appropriate research facilities under the supervision of a
responsible investigator. Grants may cover salaries for research, technical, or
other assistance as well as the cost of minor equipment, materials and other
necessary items.
Further information and application forms are available for
downloading at the Foundation’s website at
www.asthmaqld.org.au
or from:
The Managing Director
The Asthma Foundation of Queensland
PO Box 394
Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
Email: info@asthmaqld.org.au
Ph:
(07) 3252 7677 or 1800 645 130
Applications close on 1 May 2008.
Conference Diary
Submit brief conference/meeting details to the National Asthma Council Australia for possible posting in our Conference Diary by email to
editor@nationalasthma.com.au.
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10th International Paediatric & Child Health Nursing
Conference
Holiday Inn Esplanade Darwin & Darwin Entertainment
Centre
Northern Territory, Australia
30 April 2008 - 2 May 2008
http://www.ipchnconference.com.au/ |
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ATS, Annual meeting of the American Lung Association & American Thoracic Society
16-21 May 2008
Toronto, Canada
http://www.thoracic.org/
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The 4th IPCRG World Conference:
Building bridges among diversity
28 - 31 May, 2008
Seville, Spain
http://ipcrg-seville2008.unicongress.com/ |
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XXVII
Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and
Clinical Immunology
7-11 June 2008
Barcelona, Spain
http://www.eaaci2008.com |
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48th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Respiratory Society
15-17 June 2008
Kobe, Japan
http://www.jrs.or.jp/english/information/meeting48.html
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2nd
Australian Lung Cancer Conference
21–24 August 2008
Holiday Inn – Surfers Paradise
Queensland
http://www.alcc.net.au/ |
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WONCA
2008 Asia Pacific Regional Conference
1–5 October 2008.
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.wonca2008.com |
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ERS Annual Congress
4-8 October 2008
Berlin, Germany
http://www.ersnet.org/
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Advancing Asthma Where?
Australian Asthma Conference
20 - 21 October 2008
Australian Technology Park
Sydney, Australia
http://www.asthmaconference2008.com/ |
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CHEST, Annual International Scientific Assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians
25-30 October 2008
Philadelphias United States
http://www.chestnet.org/CHEST/
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American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
7-12 November 2008
Seattle, United States
http://www.acaai.org/
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13th APSR Congress
19-22 November 2008
Bangkok, Thailand
http://www.apsr2008.org
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Annual Meeting of Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
6-7 December 2008
Taipei, Taiwan
spccm@mars.seed.net.tw
http://www.tspccm.org.tw/
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