Prevalence, morbidity and management of adult asthma in South Australia

This paper reviews asthma-related data obtained between 1987 and 1997 from self-report population surveys of adults in South Australia. A multistage, systematic, clustered area sample of adults (>15 years) was selected from a random sample of Australian Bureau of Statistics collector districts, and interviewed at home by trained health interviewers. The self-report prevale nce of doctor-diagnosed asthma increased from 5.6% in 1987 to 12.2% in 1997 . Morbidity measured as days lost from usual activities and nights awoken b y asthma remained high, but hospitalization rates are trending down. The ow nership of asthma action plans peaked in 1995 and has declined. The ownersh ip of peak flow meters increased between 1992 and 1997, and the ownership o f nebulisers remained constant. Evidence-based interventions are required t o improve asthma management.