According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data released by the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC), asthma-related deaths have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The figures show that there were 474 asthma-related deaths, made up of 325 females and 149 males.
NAC Director and respiratory physician, Professor Peter Wark, said that asthma deaths remain unchanged due to serious ongoing problems with asthma management.
“The NAC was formed in 1989 to combat the high number of annual asthma deaths – at the time 964 people. 35 years later, the number of asthma deaths have halved, however, to still have 474 people losing their lives is shocking.
“More effort needs to be made in diagnosing asthma properly and emphasising to patients living with asthma the importance of using an inhaled preventer treatment.
“Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease and needs to be treated with an inhaled corticosteroid to reduce inflammation, control symptoms and reduce the risk of death from asthma, not just use of a blue reliever puffer alone. But the use of inhaled corticosteroids for all adults and adolescents with asthma is still under-prescribed in Australia.
“This is despite being the recommended treatment in the National Asthma Council’s Australian Asthma Handbook, the national guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma as a chronic condition,” said Professor Wark.
“Until this changes, too many people will continue to over-use their blue reliever puffer with the increased risk of poor asthma control and an increased risk of asthma death,” he said.
Professor Wark said that the majority of asthma deaths are entirely preventable.
“There was a brief reduction in asthma deaths in 2021 that was a consequence of the pandemic and lockdowns that resulted in fewer viral infections and therefore fewer episodes of acute asthma.
“Unfortunately, the last two years has shown that asthma deaths have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“Of huge concern is that it remains stable in younger populations where asthma is likely to be the only disease present and ALL these deaths are entirely preventable,” he said.
The NAC recommends the following for health professionals caring for patients with asthma:
- Correctly diagnose asthma with a lung function test.
- If patients have ever had an asthma attack or need to use a reliever puffer more than one or two times per month, they should take an inhaled anti-inflammatory corticosteroid preventer. New guidelines recommend anti-inflammatory treatments in a combination inhaler with a reliever to be used as needed. This is safer than a blue reliever puffer alone.
- If patients present with asthma symptoms or a persistent night time cough that prevent them from doing normal day to day activities suggest a lung function test. There are effective treatments available for people with asthma and reduce the need for oral corticosteroids for acute attacks.
- Ensure asthma patients have an up to date written asthma action plan.
- Remind patients to be especially careful during thunderstorms and when thunderstorm asthma warnings are issued and that using an anti-inflammatory preventer to reduce their risk.
- Check that patients are using their inhalers properly and that they know what to do in case of an asthma flare-up, acute attack, or asthma emergency.
