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Publications
Further Information
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 report was published on Thursday 10 November 2016
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 was published on Tuesday 5 May 2015
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
This report was published on Wednesday 13 August 2014
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
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Monitoring pulmonary rehabilitation and long-term oxygen therapy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Australia: a discussion paper
This report was published on Wednesday 20 November 2013
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
This report was published on Thursday 12 September 2013
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
This report was published on Wednesday 19th December 2012
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
This report was published on Friday 7th November 2012
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
This report was published on Tuesday 18 October 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
Time trends and geographical variation in hospital
re-admissions for asthma
This report was published on Monday 7 March 2011
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
Asthma in Australian children: findings from Growing up in Australia, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
This report was published on Wednesday 14 October 2009
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
Burden of disease due to asthma in Australia 2003
This report was published on Tuesday 1 September 2009
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
Refining national asthma indicators: Delphi survey and correlation analysis
Web-based report only
This report was published on Tuesday 21 July 2009
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.
Asthma in Australia 2008
**Now available in HTML format** - please 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 resources available for Asthma in Australia 2008
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
This report was released on Monday 20 October 2008.
The HTML version became available on Friday 6 February 2009.
Statistical methods for monitoring asthma
This report was released on Tuesday 29 January 2008
To view this publication as a PDF please click here
This statistical procedure manual documents and shares the experience of the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) in analysing national asthma-specific population data. Since its formation in 2002, ACAM have undertaken extensive analyses of a wide range of administrative and population health data to monitor asthma in Australia. In this manual, the approaches developed by ACAM for interrogating large population datasets from the point of receipt until delivery of final analyses are documented. It is anticipated that the principles applied in relation to interrogating data for asthma monitoring purposes will also be applicable to other chronic disease areas.
Australian asthma indicators: Five year review of asthma monitoring in Australia
**Web-based report only**
To view this publication as a PDF please click here
In 2004, the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring reviewed the proposed indicators for monitoring asthma in Australia and published a set of recommended indicators. An accompanying data development plan was published in 2005. This report reviews the outcomes of the indicator review, the lessons learnt through experience with various data sources, progress so far with asthma data development and suggests future directions for national asthma monitoring.
Survey questions for monitoring national asthma indicators
To view this pucblication as a PDF please click here
This report provides a recommended module of survey questions that can be used to collect key information about asthma such as prevalence, management issues, level of disease control and impact of the disease on the health system and individuals. The recommended questions are the result of a comprehensive review and development process and will help ensure consistency in the data collected to monitor core asthma indicators. The report is relevant to epidemiologists and other researchers who are conducting health surveys in the population.
Patterns of asthma medication use in Australia
To view this pucblication as a PDF please click here
Drug therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for controlling asthma and preventing and relieving attacks. This report describes the first study to use national data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) to investigate the patterns of asthma medication use in Australia. It examines the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on the frequency of use of these medications, the potency of prescribed medications and the relationships between different classes of asthma medications. The methods used in this study are likely to be applicable to researchers investigating medication use for other conditions and diseases. The results will also be of interest to clinicians and policy makers in asthma.
Asthma in Australia: findings from the 2004–05 National Health Survey
To view this report in a PDF format click here
This report presents asthma results from the 2004–05 National Health Survey. The National Health Survey is conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics every three years and currently provides the only nation-wide source of self-reported experiences with asthma including prevalence, management, quality of life and health-related behaviours available in Australia. This report makes comparisons between people with and without asthma, investigates the effect of social and demographic characteristics and compares the findings from this, most recent, survey with those from the previous National Health Survey conducted in 2001. It will be of value to all those interested in having updated information on the status of asthma in Australia, such as those involved in asthma care and government policy makers.
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among older people in Australia: Deaths and hospitalisations
To view this report in a PDF format click here
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can together be described as obstructive lung disease. This report examines recent data on deaths and hospitalisations among people aged 55 years and over when asthma or COPD are recorded as one of multiple causes of death or hospital diagnoses. The aim is to describe the extent of obstructive lung disease among older Australians, to assess the possibility of misclassification between asthma and COPD and to investigate the association between these diseases and other conditions. The information contained in this report will be relevant to clinicians, policy makers and others who have an interest in obstructive lung disease.
Asthma in Australia 2005
To view this report as a html document 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, who receive various treatments for asthma, who have written asthma action plans, and who visit their GP, are hospitalised or die due to asthma, Health care expenditure for asthma is also discussed. In addition, a chapter has been included in this report that focuses on asthma in Australian children.
Click here to download powerpoint slides (including notes pages) of all the figures from Asthma in Australia 2005.
Health care expenditure and the burden of disease due to asthma in Australia
This report provides a summary of two aspects of the economic impact of asthma in Australia: health care expenditure and burden of disease attributable to asthma-related disability and premature mortality. The information contained in this report will help guide the formation of health policy in relation to asthma.
Enhancing asthma-related information for population monitoring: Asthma data development plan 2005
Asthma is a National Health Priority Area in Australia. Targeting and evaluating interventions to improve asthma outcomes requires good data on asthma indicators. This document proposes a plan for the further development of asthma-related data for population monitoring purposes. For some indicators, which are currently being monitored, additional analyses to extend the interpretation of data are recommended. For others, a plan for the development of nation-wide data sources is proposed.
Measuring the impact of asthma on quality of life in the Australian population
This report provides a comprehensive review of approaches to measuring the impact of asthma on quality of life that can be used in population-based monitoring. While the main focus is on population monitoring in relation to asthma, the findings will be of interest to those whose focus is on other chronic diseases.
Policy makers, data agencies and researchers in measuring population health may find this report useful.
Asthma in Australia 2003
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, who receive various treatments for asthma, who have written asthma action plans, and who visit their GP, are hospitalised or die due to asthma.
Review of proposed National Health Priority Area asthma indicators and data sources
This document provides a background to defining and measuring National Health Priority Area (NHPA) indicators for asthma.
The issues surrounding the selection, operational definition and measurement of indicators for asthma are presented.
