The AIHW’s Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024 reveals important insights into the contemporary burden of disease in Australia’s healthcare landscape. While overall the rate of total age-adjusted disease burden decreased by 10% between 2003 and 2024, asthma is moving in the opposite direction. The burden for asthma has increased by 8.5% in the same time period, while remaining similar to 2022 and 2023.  

This means that despite advances in treatment, the impact of asthma on population health has grown significantly and this trend warrants our attention. 

Asthma burden of diseaseAccording to the study, asthma remains a significant contributor to Australia’s overall disease burden. It has risen to rank the 8th highest burden since 2022, with an age-standardised rate of 5.3 per 1,000 population in 2023 and 2024. Asthma remains the leading cause of disease burden, accounting for 11.9% of total disease burden in children 5-14. This breaks down as 12.8% of total disease burden in males and 10.7% in females in this age group, with other conditions in the top five for both groups being related to developmental or mental health. This places asthma as one of the most impactful chronic conditions for children. 

The study demonstrates the prominent impact asthma has on children, suggesting that management and prevention strategies should remain a priority in paediatric healthcare settings. 

Across all age groups, asthma’s burden is influenced by multiple risk factors, including environmental and occupational exposures. These include: 

  • Being overweight (including obesity) – 24% 
  • Tobacco use – 7% 
  • Occupational exposures and hazards – 5% 

Air pollution, although not directly linked to asthma burden, was linked to other respiratory conditions and was estimated to contribute 7.5% to the burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The data underscores that asthma remains a significant public health challenge and suggests that current management strategies need strengthening to address the high burden of disease.

Publication date: December 2024 

Author: Asthma Australia 

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