Overview

Respiratory conditions affect the airways, including the lungs as well as the passages that transfer air from the mouth and nose into the lungs. They can be long lasting (chronic) or short term (acute) and can cause ill health, disability and death.

More reports and statistics on respiratory conditions can be found under Chronic disease.

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Latest findings

In 2017–18, females aged 15 and over were 2.3 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for asthma than males

In 2017–18, boys aged 0–14 were 1.6 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for asthma than girls

1 in 9 Australians had asthma in 2017–18 that had been diagnosed by a doctor or nurse based on self-reported survey data

COPD was the 5th leading cause of death in 2018

In 2017–18, admissions to hospital for COPD were highest in winter and early spring

The prevalence of COPD was higher in the lowest socioeconomic area compared with that in the highest socioeconomic area

Highlights

31%of Australians had chronic respiratory conditions in 2017−18 – estimated as almost 7.4 million people
1 in 4people aged 15 and over with asthma have a written asthma action plan, based on self-reported survey data
1 in 20Australians aged 45 and over had COPD in 2017−18, based on self-reported survey data
COPDwas the 5th leading cause of death in 2017 (4.7% of all deaths)
90%aged 45 and over with COPD had at least one other chronic condition in 2017−18 based on self-reported survey data
1 in 9 Australianshad asthma in 2017−18 that had been diagnosed by a doctor or nurse based on self-reported survey data
441 deathswere due to asthma in 2017 (0.3% of all deaths)