The Australian Centre for Airways disease Monitoring (ACAM) aims to assist in reducing the burden of airways disease in Australia by developing, collating and interpreting data relevant to the prevention and management of chronic airways diseases as well as health policy.

Published papers:

Contribution of obesity to breathlessness in a large nationally representative sample of Australian adults

Obesity is related to breathlessness symptoms.However, the contribution of obesity to breathless-ness has not been clearly documented. Our studyfound that one-quarter of breathlessness symptomsin Australian adults was attributable to obesity.This remained the case after adjusting for commonmedical conditions known to be associated with breathlessness.

Guo YL, Ampon MR, Poulos LM, Davis SR, Toelle BG, Marks GB and Reddel HK.

Available online November 2022. This article can be accessed here 

Prevalence and burden of breathlessness in Australian adults: The National Breathlessness Survey - a cross-sectional web-based population survey

Breathlessness is common in Australia, and there is a substantial burden of breathlessness among those without a resipratory or heart condition, suggesting underdiagnosis of these conditions or alternative causes of breathlessness. Further investigation of its causes, including among people who have not sought medical advice about breathlessness, is needed.

Poulos LM, Ampon RD, Currow DC, Marks GB, Toelle BG and Reddel HK.

Respirology 2021, 26(8):768-75. doi:10.1111/resp.14070

PUBLISHED REPORTS

A collaborative approach to national surveillance for respiratory epidemics, including thunderstorm asthma epidemics

This working paper outlines the content of a workshop on Developing a national surveillance approach for respiratory epidemics, which was held in Canberra on 3 May 2017. The expert advice received at the workshop from a large array of stakeholders involved in health protection is outlined by providing full summaries of every presentation on the day, along with issues for further consideration which were discussed on the day. This working paper is intended as a resource for policy makers, hospital administrators, clinicians, researchers and peak organisations.

To view or download a PDF of the report click here

The use of lung function testing for the diagnosis and management of chronic airways disease: demonstration data linkage project using the 45 and Up Study 2001–2014

This demonstration data linkage study investigates the use of lung function testing in the diagnosis and management of chronic airways disease. It uses data from the 45 and Up Study linked to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data.

The evidence from this study will inform initiatives to help improve appropriate prescribing and health outcomes for people with chronic airways disease. This project also provides a demonstration of methods that could also potentially be used to fill evidence gaps associated with other chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and cancer.

To view or download a PDF of the report click here

Respiratory medication use in Australia 2003–2013: treatment of asthma and COPD

This report describes patterns of dispensing of respiratory medications in Australia through detailed analyses of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data, as well as other sources, to draw inferences about respiratory medication use among patients with asthma and COPD. It provides a valuable update and new information about the use of medicines for asthma and COPD, thus improving our knowledge and understanding about how these diseases are managed in Australia.

To view or download a PDF of the report click here

Other resources: PowerPoint slides of all the figures from the report are also available to download here

Mortality from asthma and COPD in Australia

Asthma death rates in Australia are high compared with many other countries and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of deaths in Australia and internationally. This report provides current information about mortality due to these conditions in Australia, examining trends over time, seasonal variation, international comparison and variation by age, sex, remoteness, Indigenous status, country of birth and socioeconomic disadvantage.

To view or download a PDF of the report click here

Monitoring pulmonary rehabilitation and long-term oxygen therapy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Australia: a discussion paper

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of death and disability in Australia. While pulmonary rehabilitation and long term oxygen therapy are recommended treatments for COPD, there is currently no national information about the supply and use of these therapies. This report outlines a proposed approach to monitoring access to, and utilisation of, these therapies, by capitalising on existing data sources and identifying data development opportunities.

To view or download a PDF of the report click here

Monitoring asthma in pregnancy: a discussion paper

Asthma in pregnant women may have adverse effects on maternal, fetal and infant outcomes, particularly if expectant mothers experience an exacerbation of asthma while pregnant. Pregnancy, in turn, may have adverse effects on asthma control among expectant mothers. This report outlines a proposed approach to monitoring asthma during pregnancy by capitalising on existing data sources as well as identifying data development opportunities.

To view or download a PDF of the report click here

Vaccination uptake among people with chronic respiratory disease

Research has shown that vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal infection can benefit people with obstructive airways disease, which includes asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This report reviews the limited information available in Australia on how many people with asthma and COPD have the vaccination, and finds that the uptake rate is not as high as would be expected if recommendations were being followed. It presents a range of data improvement options that would enhance our ability to monitor vaccination uptake in this and other at-risk population groups.

To view or download the report as a PDF please click here

Medications prescribed for people with obstructive airways disease Antibiotics and inhaled corticosteroids

Appropriate use of medications is important in maximising health benefits for patients, minimising the negative effects of medications, and controlling health costs. This report focuses on the appropriate use of certain medications for the management of obstructive airways disease, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Data in this report suggest that antibiotics are commonly used among patients with asthma and COPD, and that supply patterns for inhaled corticosteroids are often not consistent with treatment guidelines for the management of these conditions.

To view or download the report as a PDF please click here

Asthma in Australia 2011

Asthma is an important health problem in Australia. This report brings together data from a wide range of sources to describe the current status of Asthma in Australia. It includes information on the number of people who have asthma and who visit their general practitioner, are hospitalised or die due to asthma. Time trends and profiles of people who receive various treatments for asthma are also presented, along with information on those who have written asthma action plans. In addition, comorbidities and quality of life among people with asthma are also investigated. This report also includes a chapter that focuses on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Australians aged 55 years and over.

This is the fourth report of the Asthma in Australia series.

To view or download the report as a PDF please click here

Other Asthma in Australia 2011 resources:

To view and/or download PowerPoint slides of all the figures from Asthma in Australia 2011 please click here

To view and/or download a list of key asthma messages arising from the report please click here

This report was published on
Monday 7 March 2011

Time trends and geographical variation in hospital
re-admissions for asthma

Hospital re-admission rates are an indicator of the quality of health-care provision and have important implications for policy makers and health care planners.
This report examines the overall rate of re-admissions for asthma within 28 days in Australia, looking at time trends and differences according to age, sex, socioeconomic status and remoteness of residence.

This is a web-based report only.

To view or download the report as a PDF please click here

This report was released on
Wednesday 14 October 2009

Asthma in Australian children: findings from Growing up in Australia, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children

Within the first three years of life, 16.9% of infants experience asthma or wheeze. Among non-asthmatic children aged 4 to 5 years, 4.1% will develop asthma by the 7th year of life.
These and other new insights into the incidence, natural progression and outcomes associated with childhood asthma are presented in this report, based on analysis of Growing up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.

To view or download the report as a PDF please click here

This report was released
Tuesday 1 September 2009

Burden of disease due to asthma in Australia 2003

In 2003 asthma was the leading cause of burden of disease in Australian children, contributing 17.4% of total DALYs and the eleventh-leading contributor to the overall burden of disease in Australia, accounting for 2.4% of the total number of DALYs. Asthma also contributed a substantial proportion to the Indigenous health gap in the burden of non-communicable conditions. It is predicted that asthma will continue to rank as one of the major causes of disease burden in Australia for the next 2 decades, particularly among females.

To view the whole report as a PDF please click here

This report was released
Tuesday 21 July 2009

Refining national asthma indicators: Delphi survey and correlation analysis

Web-based report only

To view this publication as a PDF please click here

This report is the result of a systematic review undertaken by the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) to refine and simplify asthma monitoring in Australia. A Delphi survey and correlation analysis were used to review the currently recommended list of 24 national asthma indicators in order to identify a smaller set of core indicators which provide the most important and relevant information and which are more effective at signalling change for future asthma monitoring activities.

This report was released
on Monday 20 October 2008.

The HTML version became
available on Friday 6
February 2009.

Asthma in Australia 2008

**Now available in HTML format** - Click here to access

To view this publication as a PDF please click here

Asthma is an important health problem in Australia. This report brings together data from a wide range of sources to describe the current status of asthma in Australia. It includes information on the number of people who have asthma and who visit their GP, are hospitalised or die due to asthma. Time trends and profiles of people who receive various treatments for asthma are also presented, along with information on those who have written asthma action plans. In addition, comorbidities and quality of life among people with asthma are investigated. This report also includes a chapter that focuses on asthma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Other Asthma in Australia 2008 resources:

To view and/or download PowerPoint slides of all the figures from Asthma in Australia 2008 please click here

To view and/or download a list of key asthma messages arising from the report please click here

For a full list of reports from ACAM, see our publications page