The hard facts about struggling for breath

• About 2 million Australians have current asthma
  - 1 in 10 people
  
  Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring, Asthma Messages, January 2009
  
• Asthma is one of Australia’s most widespread chronic health problems
  
• Asthma represents the 2nd most common self reported illness affecting the Aboriginal population (26%) (ABS 2006)
  
• Mortality due to asthma is reported at 3.15 times higher among Aboriginal Australians than other Australians (AIHW Asthma in Australia Report 2008)
  
•  Deaths in Australia caused by asthma are high on an international scale. (416 deaths in 2010)
  
  
• In 2004-05, $606 million (1.2% of total health-care expenditure) was spent on asthma, over half of it on medication.
  
  Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring, Asthma Messages, January 2009
  
  
• In SA, asthma is the second most common reason for admission to a hospital bed.

SA Department of Health, A Social Health Atlas of SA 3rd Edition, 2006

• In Australia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) causes or contributes to over 12,000 deaths each year.

Australian Institute of Heath and Welfare Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Older People in Australia, Canberra 2006

• COPD costs the Australian community an estimated $818–$898 million annually. The addition of hidden costs, such as those related to carer burden, loss of productivity from absenteeism and early retirement, could increase the estimate to more than $1 billion per annum.
  
  Australian Lung Foundation and Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, The COPD-X Plan:Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2007
  
  
• Tobacco smoking has been estimated to cost $12.7 billion a year in health care expenses, lost productivity and other costs.
  
  SA Department of Health, A Social Health Atlas of SA 3rd Edition, 2006
  
  
• Anaphylaxis leads to the death of 10 to 20 Australians each year.
  
  Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy www.allergy.org.au Updated Feb. 2005
  
  
• In Australia and New Zealand, 1 in 3 people will develop allergies at some time during their life.
  
  From Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy www.allergy.org.au Updated Feb. 2005
  
  
• The largest group affected by Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is the middle-aged population where it is estimated to affect 10%, with males predominating in a ratio of 10:1.
  
  Monash University www.med.monash.edu.au Updated January 2007
  
  
• Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life threatening, recessive genetic condition affecting Australian children. Only 50% will survive until 30 years of age and one in 25 Australians carry the CF gene.
  
  Cystic Fibrosis in Australia http://www.cysticfibrosis.org.au  Updated 2007