The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has just released Asthma in Australia 2011: with a focus chapter on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Asthma remains a significant health problem in Australia, with prevalence rates that are high by international comparison - currently about one in ten people. Although the mortality rate has decreased significantly over the past 20 years, it is still higher than in other countries. All aspects of the disease are investigated, including information on the number of people who have asthma and who visit their general practitioner, are hospitalised or die due to asthma. Comorbidities and quality of life among people with asthma are also studied. The report also includes a chapter that focuses on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in Australians aged 55 years and over, which indicates that many more people in this age group are hospitalised or die due to COPD than to asthma.
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