Asthma control/reliever overuse 2022-2023 (AIHW)

Analysis of PBS data shows that in 2022-2023, 27% of people aged 40 and under (and dispensed at least one reliever during the year) were considered to have poor asthma control based on their use of reliver medication (dispensed reliever medicine 3 or more times in a year) – progress compared to 29% in 2017-2018. It was:
– 31% in people aged 35-40, higher than for all other age groups
– 29% in males vs 26% in females
Rates have remained similar since 2017-2018 apart from spikes in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 related to bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: since previous reporting by AIHW, the scope of reliever medication has expanded to include SABA and also budesonide-formoterol 50-200mcg, resulting in data changes across all years. Budesonide-formoterol can also be used as a preventer.