A report released today, on World Asthma Day, by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare says asthma, especially among
children and young adults, is on the decline but notes that
socioeconomic disparities are widening.
The report, Asthma in Australia: results from the 2004-05
National Health Survey, presents findings from the most recent
National Health Survey and compares them to results from the
previous survey conducted in 2001.
According to the report, just over two million Australians are
estimated to suffer from asthma, but the proportion of Australians
reporting asthma in 2004-05 (10.3%) was lower than in 2001
(11.6%).
Dr Guy Marks, of the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring,
said the prevalence of asthma has fallen significantly among
children and young adults since 2001.
'People with asthma rated their health better and reported fewer
asthma-related days off work or study in 2004-05 than they did in
2001, although those with asthma still regarded their overall
health as worse than those without asthma ' he said.
There was a higher prevalence of asthma among Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Australians compared to other
Australians.
People living in the more socioeconomically disadvantaged
localities also had a higher prevalence of the disease.
'The gap in asthma prevalence between the most advantaged and
most disadvantaged localities widened between the two surveys. The
underlying causes of asthma are unknown but this widening gap is an
issue of concern.' Dr Marks said.
Less than one quarter (23%) of people with asthma reported
having a written asthma action plan. This was a substantial
improvement over 2001 when just 17% of asthma suffers had one in
place.
'Surprisingly, one quarter of adults with asthma reported that
they were current smokers and 11% of children with asthma were
exposed to passive smoke in their home,' Dr Marks said.
The Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring is a collaborating
unit of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, based at
the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney and funded by
the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through
the National Asthma Management Program.
1 May 2007
Further information: Dr Guy Marks, ACAM, tel.
02 9515 8631 or mob. 0419 251 565.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Asthma in Australia:
results from the 2004-05 National Health Survey.