In New Zealand

The Statistics

We are not sure why New Zealand has the second highest prevalence of asthma in the world (after the UK). Possible factors include diet, climate, immunisation rates, economic conditions, community health care standards, antibiotic use in early childhood and the timing and number of respiratory infections in early life.

Whatever the cause, one thing is for sure - asthma hits our country hard. 

  • One in six New Zealand adults and one in four of our children experience asthma symptoms. (Adding up to more than 600 000 Kiwis.)
  • The prevalence of asthma appears to be similar across New Zealand metropolitan centres.
  • Asthma is the most common cause of admission to hospital for children.
  • Severe asthma is common - up to 8 percent of teenagers report wheeze limiting speech, and 10 percent of adults report waking with breathlessness occurring within the previous 12 months.
  • Hospitalisation rates for asthma have more than doubled in the past 30 years.
  • Asthma is the highest-ranking specific disease in terms of Years Lost to Disability in males, and third highest for females. ('Years Lost to Disability' represent time in which a person is too unwell to enjoy the productive life they normally would.)

Maori and Pacific Islanders

Asthma disproportionately affects Maori and Pacific Island people, and lower socio-economic groups.

  • The prevalence of asthma is similar for Maori and non-Maori children; however, the rate of asthma in adults is higher for Maori (22 percent) than non-Maori (15 percent).
  • The prevalence of asthma in Pacific Island children is lower than for other ethnic groups. However, asthma is more prevalent among Pacific Island adults (20 percent) than otheradults.
  • Maori and Pacific Island children with asthma tend to have more severe asthma.
  • Hospital admissions are twice as common for Maori as for non-Maori.
  • Studies have linked socio-economic disadvantage with difficulty in accessing primary health care needs, leading to hospital admission for asthma.
  • The most likely explanation for the above is inequality of access to primary health care.

Asthma deaths

  • New Zealand experienced two asthma mortality epidemics in the 1960s and 1980s. However, during the 1990s the rate of deaths from asthma was similar to that in other Western countries.
  • In 2006, according to Ministry of Health, 132 New Zealanders died from asthma.

The burden of asthma can be reduced

  • Many people do not have optimal control of their asthma - often because they don't know that better control is possible, or because of barriers to accessing primary health care.
  • Addressing this issue can significantly reduce the burden of asthma. For example, good medical advice and appropriate medication, together with education used within the framework of a written asthma self management plan can significantly reduce morbidity from asthma among adults.

Sources

Asher MI, et al. The burden of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema in children and adolescents in six New Zealand centres : ISAAC Phase One. NZ Med J 2001; 114: 114-20.

Holt S, and Beasley R. The Burden of Asthma in New Zealand. Report produced for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand, December 2001.

Mortality and Demographic Data [1990-1998]. New Zealand Health Information Service.

Selected Morbidity Data for Publicly Funded Hospitals 1998/99. New Zealand Health Information Service, 2001.

© Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand (Inc.) 2/2002  Photocopy permission granted