Last updated on 23/03/2026

 

House to examine critical gaps in women’s asthma care across the life course, with new national data driving calls to embed asthma in women’s health reform.

Parliamentarians, clinicians, researchers and people with asthma came together this week at Parliament House to launch the She Needs to Breathe: Closing the Asthma Gender Gap campaign, examining new national data and exploring how asthma can be more systematically integrated into Australia’s women’s health agenda.

Asthma affects one in five adult Australian women (20.1%), with women accounting for 61% of all adults living with the condition, according to new national data prepared for Asthma Australia by the Australian Centre for Airways Disease Monitoring (ACAM) at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.1

Despite this significant burden, asthma is not consistently embedded within women’s health frameworks and routine assessments.

Asthma’s impact on women evolves across the life course. After puberty, asthma becomes more common in females than males.2 Rates remain elevated through women’s peak working and caregiving years and rise again in later life.3 Women aged 55 – 64 experience substantially higher asthma prevalence than men the same age,3 and twice as many women die as men.4

ACAM’s data provides further insight into the daily burden experienced by women living with asthma:1

  • 53% experience high or very high psychological distress.
  • 72% report moderate to severe anxiety or depression.
  • Only 66% report using inhaled preventer medication in the past 12 months.
  • Just 33.6% have a written asthma action plan.

These findings reveal critical gaps in how asthma in women is recognised, reviewed and managed within the health system. Asthma Australia is calling for decisive action to ensure asthma is consistently embedded within women’s health strategies, policies and routine health assessments.

Speaking at the event, Kate Miranda, CEO of Asthma Australia, said the new data reinforced the scale and urgency of the issue. “These figures show asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting Australian women, particularly during their peak working and caregiving years. There is an opportunity to strengthen how asthma care for women is integrated into the health system, including routine reviews and health assessments.”

Professor John Blakey, Medical Advisor to Asthma Australia and Medical Co-Director at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, told attendees that recognising biological differences across the life course was critical to improving outcomes.

“Women experience distinct hormonal influences that can affect airway inflammation and asthma control. When you look at the data showing higher prevalence, psychological burden and poorer management indicators, it reinforces the need to integrate respiratory reviews into routine care at key life stages could make a meaningful difference,” he said.

Addressing the event, The Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, Disability and the NDIS, said the Government remained committed to strengthening women’s health. “Our Government is working hard to lift health outcomes for women, and that starts with listening to their experiences and priorities. I’m grateful for the insights of clinicians and Asthma Australia as we continue shaping evidence‑based policy that genuinely meets women’s needs.”

The Hon. Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, who attended the event, said one in five women live with asthma, yet for too long its impact on women’s health has been overlooked. “Recognising the gender gap in asthma is an important part of understanding women’s health and the experiences of women living with asthma. ”

 

ENDS

 

About the data

Data is drawn from ACAM’s 2024 National Breathlessness Survey, a nationally representative survey of 10,706 Australian adults conducted in December 2024.

For more information:

Contact

Tanya West, Paper and Spark

M: 0406 907 845

E: [email protected]

 Jessica Lewington, Paper and Spark

M: 0412 817 878

E: [email protected]

ABOUT

Asthma Australia is the nation’s peak body representing nearly 2.8 million Australians living with asthma. Our work is grounded in evidence and informed by the lived experience of people with asthma. Our programs reflect a commitment to outcomes-focused, equity-driven reform, integrating community insight and clinical expertise to strengthen person centred asthma care.

References

  1. Poulos LM, Ampon RD, Currow DC, Marks GB, Toelle BG and Reddel HK 2021. Prevalence and burden of breathlessness in Australian adults: The National Breathlessness Survey – a cross-sectional web-based population survey, Respirology 26(8):768-75. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.14070
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Asthma [cited 2026 Feb 3]. www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/asthma/latest-release
  3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024 [cited 2026 Feb 4]. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/australian-burden-of-disease-study-2024
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Causes of Death, Australia, data cubes 2024 [cited 2025 Nov 14]. www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2024