Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 03 December 2023.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts. Canberra: AIHW.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts. AIHW, 2020.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts. Canberra: AIHW; 2020.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020, Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts, AIHW, Canberra.
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The 2019–20 bushfire season saw unprecedented fires sweep across Australia with a massive impact on many communities, devastating the natural environment and compromising air quality. This report examines a range of health data sources to assess the short-term health impacts of the bushfires, including: emergency department visits, prescription and purchase of asthma medicines, mental health service use and GP visits. Results show clear associations between increased bushfire activity, including poor air quality, and people seeking assistance for their health.
Sales and dispensing of inhalers for shortness of breath increased in bushfire-affected regions.
There was a clear association between poor air quality and emergency department visits for respiratory health in NSW.
This figure compares changes in rates, by week, for 2019–20 compared to the same time the previous year for each Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) PBS salbutamol prescription dispensing, MBS respiratory test items and sales of inhalers for shortness of breath (over-the-counter and PBS). Users can select the measure of each data set displayed (age-standardised or crude rate), and which SA4 is highlighted for comparison.
