Tragically, 478 Australians lost their lives in 2024 due to asthma, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today by the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC).
Comprised of 322 females and 156 males, sadly, the figures are almost identical to the 480 asthma deaths recorded in 2023.
The highest number of asthma deaths by state was 152 people in New South Wales, followed by 128 Victorians, 87 Queenslanders, 50 South Australians and 36 people from West Australia.
NAC Director and respiratory physician, Professor Peter Wark, said the deaths reinforce the importance that all people with asthma receive a correct diagnosis and receive treatment with an anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid based regimen.
“In 2024, there was a fall in adult deaths of those aged 35 to 65 years, though this was cancelled out by a rise in deaths of those over the age of 65 years, who represent almost 80% of people dying from asthma in Australia.
“Sadly, in the youngest cohort, aged 0-35 years, there was an increase in the number of asthma deaths, from 21 to 28, all of which are likely to be entirely preventable,” he said.
Professor Wark stated that it was also of great concern that women aged over 75 represented exactly 50% of all deaths from asthma.
“The importance of asthma may be unrecognised in this group and can often be associated with other chronic medical conditions, possibly leading to under treatment.
“More work needs to be done in this area, but late onset asthma affecting women is often driven by severe refractory inflammation that responds less well to inhaled corticosteroids. Specialist referral for those with severe asthma and poor control should be considered at any age as the treatments are so effective,” he said.
Professor Wark said that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease and is always present even when symptoms seem mild.
“The best protection against death from asthma is treating it with an inhaled corticosteroid and your doctor can now prescribe convenient anti-inflammatory reliever therapy that is effective and safe.
“Anti-inflammatory reliever therapy provides a different type of quick-relief medicine and helps treat the underlying airway inflammation that causes asthma, as well as relieving the symptoms,” he said.
The NAC recently updated the Australian Asthma Handbook national guidelines for asthma management and now recommends that all adults and adolescents with asthma should use an anti-inflammatory reliever.
“No adult or adolescent should manage their asthma solely with a blue puffer as it doesn’t treat the cause of asthma, or prevent symptoms or flare-ups and has been strongly associated with an increased risk of asthma death,” said Professor Wark.
For further information or an interview with a NAC spokesperson, please contact:
Donna Le Page, Le Page PR
Mobile: 0429 825 703 or Email: [email protected]
View 2024 mortality infographic
