Drop in Victorian asthma deaths

DATA from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that asthma deaths in Victoria have dropped by seven per cent over the last year.

Victoria had 23 per cent of national asthma deaths with 74 female and 33 male Victorians losing their lives to asthma in 2023.

Deaths of women aged 55 to 74 had the largest increase, doubling from 10 deaths in 2022 to 20 in 2023.

Women aged over 75 remain most at risk.

National Asthma Council Director and respiratory physician, Professor Peter Wark, said most of these deaths are 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,” he said.

“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.”

Mr Wark said figures remain unchanged due to problems with asthma management.

“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,” he said.

“Asthma is a chronic disease of inflamed airways and needs to be treated with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid preventer to control symptoms and reduce asthma deaths, not just use of a blue reliever puffer alone.”

Victorians with asthma are urged to ensure they have been correctly diagnosed with a lung function test, take anti-inflammatory corticosteroid preventer if they’ve ever had an asthma attack or need to use a reliever puffer more than one or two times per month, see a general practitioner if they have asthma symptoms, and to have an updated asthma action plan.