The majority of people with asthma are generally in good health,
but use the health care system more and experience more long-term
health conditions than those who have never had asthma, a new
report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
finds.
The report, Statistical snapshots of people with asthma in
Australia 2001, looks at health-related characteristics of
people with asthma and those who have never had asthma, and finds
that the majority of people with asthma are more likely than not
to:
- feel good about their quality of life
- have health the same or better than they did a year ago
- have no days of reduced activity due to illness over any given
fortnight
- have no days away from work or school or study due to illness
or injury
- have received all recommended childhood immunisations
Nevertheless, more than half of people with asthma:
- have consulted a doctor within a three-month period
- use at least one medication for asthma
- have at least three long-term health conditions
Report author Dr Perri Timmins, of the AIHW's Asthma, Arthritis
and Environmental Health Unit, said that 16 out of the 22 long term
conditions examined in the report are more likely to be present
among people with asthma than among people who have never had
asthma.
'Allergic and inflammatory conditions such as hay fever,
allergy, chronic sinusitis, bronchitis and emphysema are
consistently more common among people with asthma.
'Migraine, back pain, depression, and anxiety-related conditions
are also more frequent among people with asthma,' Dr Timmins
said.
According to the report, people with asthma are slightly more
likely than those who have never had asthma to experience
psychological distress, miss days of work or school, or reduce
their level of activity due to their asthma. They are also more
likely to be overweight.
'It should be stressed however, that despite the difference in
health-related characteristics between people with asthma and those
who have never had asthma, the majority of people with asthma
consider themselves in generally good health,' Dr Timmins said.
9 February 2007
Further information: Dr Perri Timmins, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1228 or mob. 0407 915 851
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Statistical snapshots of
people with asthma in Australia 2001.