Seasonal variation in asthma hospitalisations (AIHW 2017 to 2021)

According to AIHW asthma report 2024 (ref 1), the peaks for asthma hospitalisations generally occur for children:

• in late summer (February): the peak in February is related to respiratory infections spreading with return to school and childcare after the summer break, and possibly a lower use of preventer medicines during the summer break
• in autumn (May)
• One-off natural events occurring on a seasonal basis like bushfires and thunderstorms can also impact asthma hospitalisations

2020 was an exception to this general trend, with a large decrease in hospitalisations in April and May for all age groups, due to COVID measures and lockdowns.

Figure 16: Monthly variation in hospitalisations due to asthma, by age group, 2017 to 2021 (ref 1)

Refer to Fig 16 on AIHW website to obtain exact hospitalisation rates per months and age groups.