Australian asthma deaths up 30% in year and experts say many were preventable

ABS data shows 467 asthma-related deaths in 2022. Expert says inhaled corticosteroids should be used by most asthma sufferers and points to risk of uncontrolled use of relievers or ‘puffers’. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Asthma deaths in Australia have increased by 30% in a single year, with experts saying many of those deaths were preventable.

There were 467 asthma-related deaths recorded in Australia in 2022, up from 355 deaths in 2021, Australian Bureau of Statistics data, published by the National Asthma Council Australia on Wednesday, show.