GPs reminded of 'central' role as asthma control worsens

GPs are being encouraged to regularly review and assess their patients with asthma after a study found control of symptoms across the country was declining.

A new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia found a significant worsening of key asthma indicators between 2012 and 2021, including a decline in symptom control and increased use of urgent healthcare services.

A national survey of asthma control in 2012 found 46% of participants had uncontrolled asthma symptoms and 29% had required urgent medical care within the previous year.

A decade later a repeat survey in 2021 found an increase in adults with uncontrolled asthma symptoms (52%). More than a quarter of people had ‘very poorly controlled’ symptoms.

The biggest increase was in those who required urgent healthcare (37%), a rise of eight percentage points.

Adherence of regular inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) had also decreased.

“This comparison demonstrates an increasingly high burden of preventable morbidity from asthma in Australia,” the study found.

However, the study also found substantial opportunities for improvement, including system-wide adoption of the 2025 Australian asthma guidelines.

Around one in 10 adults in Western Australia has asthma. Latest data released by the National Asthma Council (NAC) show in WA some 36 people died from asthma in 2024, a slight decrease from the 45 who died in 2023. The state recorded 8% of the nation’s asthma deaths that year.

Clinical Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, clinical executive lead at the NAC, said the findings of the study were deeply concerning.

“More than a quarter of participants with very poorly controlled symptoms is just not good enough,” she said.

“This reinforces that asthma should not be treated as a mild or episodic condition, even when symptoms are intermittent.

“GPs are central to improving asthma outcomes because most asthma care occurs in primary care.

“Asthma management should include confirming the diagnosis, assessing control and future risk, prescribing inhaled corticosteroid-containing treatment for all adults and adolescents, checking inhaler technique, supporting adherence, and providing a personalised written asthma action plan.”

Prof Rigby encouraged GPs to use the National Asthma Handbook to help manage and treatment their patients.