Asthma Deaths Reach Decade High

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released data on Tuesday showing that 484 people died from asthma in 2025. This figure represents the highest annual count in the last ten years, up from 478 deaths in the previous year. The report also indicates that dementia has become the leading cause of death, surpassing heart disease for the first time.

In total, 188,421 deaths were registered in Australia in 2025. Of these, 19,019 were attributed to dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This marks the first instance where dementia has accounted for more than 10% of all national deaths. Other primary causes of death listed in the data include ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.

Prof Tanya Buchanan, chief executive of Dementia Australia, described the figures as an urgent public health issue. She noted that approximately 446,500 Australians currently live with dementia, with another 1.7 million people involved in their care. Buchanan stated that investment in services and prevention has not kept pace with the growing impact of the condition. "The data underlines the critical need for more recognition and funding to support people living with dementia, their families and carers," she said.

Women accounted for nearly two-thirds of both asthma and dementia deaths. Kate Miranda, CEO of Asthma Australia, pointed to poor control of the condition as a major risk factor. She explained that many patients rely solely on reliever medications for symptoms rather than using preventer treatments to address underlying inflammation. "We have effective treatments and clear clinical guidelines, yet too many Australians are not getting the care they need to stay well," Miranda said.

Miranda highlighted a shift in clinical guidelines toward anti-inflammatory reliever therapy. She warned that many older Australians continue using childhood medications without knowing better options exist. Research cited in the report shows that the proportion of adults with well-controlled asthma is falling, with adherence to inhaled corticosteroids worsening among many patients.

The data also recorded 2,063 drug-induced deaths in 2025, a rise from 2,007 in 2024. Lauren Moran, the ABS head of mortality statistics, noted that while opioids and benzodiazepines remain the most common drug classes involved, deaths related to stimulants like methamphetamine are growing substantially.

Suicide remained the leading cause of premature death for both men and women in 2025. Men accounted for nearly three-quarters of these deaths. Support services for those affected are available through Beyond Blue, Lifeline, and MensLine.