1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
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Contents >> Health >> Asthma

The management of asthma is an important public health issue because of the personal burden it places on those with asthma, often with onset in childhood, and the financial burden it places on the health system. In 1996, asthma was estimated to be responsible for 2.6% of the total burden of disease in Australia (AIHW 2000a).

Policy initiatives

A national General Practitioner Asthma Initiative, which focuses on the Asthma 3+ Visit Plan, commenced in 2001 with the Commonwealth Government providing $48.4m over four years to support general practice to better manage the clinical care of people with moderate to severe asthma. General practitioners will receive additional funds through the Practice Incentive Program for each patient with moderate to severe asthma who completes the Asthma 3+ Visit Plan. This plan includes at least three general practitioner consultations (incorporating diagnosis), a written asthma action plan, self-management education and review.

Morbidity

The 2001 NHS estimated that 11.6% of Australians (2.20 million people) currently have long-term asthma (that is, it has lasted or was expected to last for six months or more).

As illustrated in graph 9.21, asthma is particularly prevalent in young people. The International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood reported an estimated prevalence rate of approximately 25% in 6-7 year old Australian children and 29% in 13-14 year olds (ISAAC Steering Committee 1998). In the 2001 NHS, medically diagnosed asthma was more frequently reported by individuals aged less than 25 years than by individuals in older age groups. In this younger age group, asthma was more prevalent in males than females, while for those aged 25 and over the pattern was reversed and asthma was more prevalent in females than males.

Graph - 9.21 Asthma - 2001



According to the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) survey, asthma is the fifth most frequently managed problem by general practitioners, accounting for 3.2 of every 100 encounters (2.2% of all problems managed) (AIHW 1999). Asthma is also one of the top six reasons for doctors referring patients to hospital. During 1999-2000, asthma was the principal diagnosis in 47,008 hospital separations (0.8% of all hospital separations), with an average stay of 2.7 days.

Mortality

Asthma was identified as the underlying cause of 0.3% of deaths registered in Australia in 2000, when 169 males and 285 females died from the disease. The most recent peak in asthma deaths occurred in 1989, and standardised death rates for asthma have been declining since then (graph 9.22). Most asthma deaths occur in older age groups.

Graph - 9.22 Standardised death rates(a) from asthma




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