Respiratory disease data book

The Health of the people of New South Wales
Report of the Chief Health Officer

Respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, were together responsible for around 14% of all deaths in NSW in the period 2002 to 2006, and about 5% of hospital separations in 2006-07.
In 2006, around 10% of adult males and 12% of adult females had asthma, and in 2005 and 2006, just under 15% of boys and almost 11% of girls aged 2-15 years had asthma. Asthma was responsible for 145 deaths in 2006 and around 13,000 hospitalisations in 2006-07.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, was responsible for over 1,500 deaths in 2006 and nearly 18,000 hospitalisations in 2006-07.
In 2006, 73% of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 83% of all lung cancer deaths were attributable to smoking. In 2006-07, smoking caused around 75% of all hospitalisations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that is associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. Hospitalisations due to asbestosis have decreased in the past two years, particularly in men aged 65 years and over.
Death rates from respiratory tuberculosis have remained low and stable in the decade between 1994 and 2006.
The rate of malignant mesothelioma (a cancer that is associated with past exposure to asbestos) more than doubled in NSW between 1986 and 2003. There was some decrease each year since then.

File link: Respiratory disease data book
File size: &booksize
Type: Report
Date of Publication: &bookdate
Author Branch: Centre for Epidemiology & Research