Asthma affects people of all ages and is associated with a substantial impact on both the individual and the community.
Using the 'burden of disease' approach, the impact of asthma is quantified as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The DALY describes the number of years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLD) and premature death (YLL). One DALY represents one lost year of healthy life.
The majority (59,054; 94%) of DALYs due to asthma arise from years of healthy life lost due to disability caused by the condition (YLD). Death due to asthma (YLL) is relatively uncommon and, in 2003, YLL accounted for only 6% (4,045) of the DALYs due to asthma.
Burden of disease due to asthma, 2003
| Condition |
Years lived with disability (YLD) |
|
Years of life lost due to premature death (YLL) |
|
Number of years of healthy life lost due to disability or premature death (DALYs) |
| Number |
Per cent |
Number |
Per cent |
Number |
Per cent |
| Asthma |
59,054 |
94 |
|
4,045 |
6 |
|
63,099 |
100 |
Source: AIHW, 2009: Burden of disease due to asthma in Australia 2003, Cat. no. ACM 16.
In 2003, 61% of the burden of disease attributed to asthma was borne by children aged 0 to 14. In this age group, asthma accounted for 21,953 DALYs among boys and 16,490 DALYs among girls. Asthma contributed a slightly higher proportion of total DALYs among boys aged 0 to 14 (18%) than among girls of the same age (17%).
The burden of asthma was greater among females aged 15 and over compared with males of the same age. Asthma represented 1.5% and 0.6% of the total DALYs among females and males, respectively, aged 15 and over.
The burden of disease attributed to asthma in 2003 was lowest among older adults aged 65 and over. In this oldest age group, people are more likely to suffer from other conditions and share the burden of disease across a range of conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but also cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
Disability-adjusted life years by age for males, asthma and all causes, Australia, 2003
| Age group |
Asthma |
|
All causes |
| DALY |
Per cent |
DALY |
Per cent |
| 0–14 |
21,953 |
75 |
|
124,809 |
9 |
| 15–34 |
3,158 |
11 |
|
202,244 |
15 |
| 35–64 |
2,957 |
10 |
|
504,173 |
37 |
| 65+ |
1,203 |
4 |
|
533,388 |
39 |
| All ages |
29,271 |
100 |
|
1,364,614 |
100 |
DALYs = disability-adjusted life years.
Source: AIHW, 2009: Burden of disease due to asthma in Australia 2003, Cat. no. ACM 16.
Disability-adjusted life years by age for females, asthma and all causes, Australia, 2003
| Age group |
Asthma |
|
All causes |
| DALY |
Per cent |
DALY |
Per cent |
| 0–14 |
16,490 |
49 |
|
96,727 |
8 |
| 15–34 |
9,701 |
29 |
|
192,750 |
15 |
| 35–64 |
5,009 |
15 |
|
415,659 |
33 |
| 65+ |
2,628 |
8 |
|
563,019 |
44 |
| All ages |
33,828 |
100 |
|
1,268,156 |
100 |
DALYs = disability-adjusted life years.
Source: AIHW, 2009: Burden of disease due to asthma in Australia 2003, Cat. no. ACM 16.
Disability-adjusted life years by age for persons, asthma and all causes, Australia, 2003
| Age group |
Asthma |
|
All causes |
| DALY |
Per cent |
DALY |
Per cent |
| 0–14 |
38,443 |
61 |
|
221,536 |
8 |
| 15–34 |
12,859 |
20 |
|
394,994 |
15 |
| 35–64 |
7,966 |
13 |
|
919,832 |
35 |
| 65+ |
3,831 |
6 |
|
1,096,407 |
42 |
| All ages |
63,099 |
100 |
|
2,632,770 |
100 |
DALYs = disability-adjusted life years.
Source: AIHW, 2009: Burden of disease due to asthma in Australia 2003, Cat. no. ACM 16.