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In 2017–18, there were almost 40 000 hospitalisations for asthma, up to 80% of which could have been avoided with better asthma care and resources in the community. In 2020–21, the numbers were reduced, paradoxically thanks to the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, children aged under 15 years still constitute the largest proportion of people presenting to emergency departments in Australia with a respiratory condition, and asthma is the leading preventable cause of these presentations. Respiratory conditions generally account for the highest proportion of emergency department presentations in relation to other disease systems, and around one‐third of these people are admitted to hospital. These presentations and admissions for asthma comprise a large group of patients with a readily treatable disease. Further, there is a tenfold variation in hospitalisation rate between the highest and the lowest socio‐economic regions, and people with asthma in low income settings and in rural Australia are doing worst of all. This is not inevitable — much of it can be prevented by simple evidence‐based approaches to asthma care, including assessing triggers, performing spirometry, devising a written action plan, and checking device use and adherence.

This MJA perspective shares more. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain key components of the perspective.
2. List main findings.
3. Develop strategies to share tasks with asthma patients to reduce the personal and community impact.

Details

Author: Christine R Jenkins, Philip G Bardin, John Blakey, Kerry L Hancock, Peter Gibson and Vanessa M McDonald

Article Type: Perspective