This report describes patterns of dispensing of respiratory medications in Australia through detailed analyses of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data, as well as other sources, to draw inferences about respiratory medication use among patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Summary This report focuses on...

This report outlines a proposed approach to monitoring access to, and utilisation of, pulmonary rehabilitation and long term oxygen therapy, by capitalising on existing data sources and identifying data development opportunities. Summary Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of death and disability...

This report outlines a proposed approach to monitoring asthma during pregnancy by capitalising on existing data sources as well as identifying data development opportunities. Summary Pregnant women with poorly controlled asthma are at increased risk of experiencing pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. They are also at...

In 2003 asthma was the leading cause of burden of disease in Australian children, contributing 17.4% of total DALYs and the eleventh-leading contributor to the overall burden of disease in Australia, accounting for 2.4% of the total number of DALYs. Asthma also contributed a substantial...

This report describes the first study to use national data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to investigate the patterns of asthma medication use in Australia.