Report calls for action on deadly lung disease affecting half-a-million Australians

 

Severe COPD hotspots revealed

 

More Australians lose their lives to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)¹ than to prostate and breast cancers combined,^2,3 with one Australian admitted to hospital with the deadly but little-known lung condition every 10 minutes.⁴

 

This is according to a new report unveiled in Australian Parliament House, which identifies this “preventable and treatable, yet shockingly common” lung condition as responsible for more than 7,600¹ deaths each year and more potentially preventable hospital admissions than any other cause.⁴

 

The Change that can’t wait: Reducing the human and economic burden of COPD in Australia report by health advisory firm Evohealth reveals that each year in Australia, COPD is responsible for 53,000 hospital admissions in those aged 45 and over and accounts for 268,000 bed days – far exceeding the OECD average.⁴ The condition also costs the Australian healthcare system $1.67 billion annually.⁵

 

The report predicts that these figures are set to increase, with the number of Australians living with COPD expected to rise from 526,000 to more than 843,000 by 2050.⁵

 

COPD, of which emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common forms, is an incurable and progressive lung disease that causes breathing difficulty. It is caused by lung tissue damage and inflammation, leading to narrowing of the airways and inability of the lungs to fully expand and contract. Early symptoms include breathlessness, persistent cough or wheeze and increased mucus production, which can worsen without effective management, causing frequent chest infections and progressive loss of lung function.⁵

 

“When it comes to lung disease, Australia can do much better. Current approaches to COPD management are failing many of the half-a-million Australians living with this condition,” said report contributor Professor Christine Jenkins, Program Head, Respiratory at The George Institute for Global Health.

 

“Delayed diagnosis, inconsistencies in care, and limited access to effective treatments are driving many of these Australians into hospital time and time again, adding further strain to healthcare resources and budgets.

 

“What’s worse, Australians are not living well and dying sooner than they should with this debilitating disease.

 

“As the condition progresses, the frequency and severity of COPD lung attacks increase. Each flare-up irreparably weakens the lungs,” she said.

 

Funded by Sanofi Australia, the report highlights that one in every four patients dies within a year of their first COPD lung attack, known medically as an exacerbation.^6,7

 

“Too often COPD is dismissed as just a bad cough or wheeze in the elderly. Earlier diagnosis is essential to give patients the right care and appropriate treatment so they can enjoy a better quality of life for longer,” said Mark Brooke, Lung Foundation Australia Chief Executive Officer.

 

For people living with severe COPD, even simple everyday tasks such as walking around the home become intolerable or impossible as breathing becomes more difficult, leading to social isolation, poor physical and mental health, and loss of independence.⁵

 

“This report shows the urgent need for change in order to maximise the health and quality of life of Australians living with COPD. Its recommendations can go a long way in improving COPD management, particularly in the hotspot areas identified,” he said.

 

There is, “hope on the horizon” according to the report, which states: “With better care, preventable hospitalisations, disease burden and mortality can be reduced, and the direct, indirect and burden of disease costs can be curbed.”⁵

 

Severe COPD Hotspots revealed – “A disease of inequity”

The analysis identifies hotspot areas across Australia with the highest numbers of severe COPD cases. The top 25 hotspots include:

“We know that COPD rates are more than three times higher in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage,⁴ which likely contributes to a disproportionate impact on these communities,” said Renae Beardmore, Managing Director of Evohealth.

 

“Further, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience highly inequitable COPD outcomes. Not only are they more likely to be diagnosed with severe or very severe COPD, but are hospitalised with COPD almost five times more often than non-Indigenous Australians.”⁸

 

“Measures to improve COPD management in Australia must acknowledge and address the fact that this is clearly a disease of inequity,” she said.

 

To reduce the burden of COPD in Australia, the report presents five recommendations for adoption by federal, state and territory governments:⁵

1. Boost spirometry utilisation in primary care to enable early and accurate COPD diagnosis and monitoring.
2. Expand partnerships and programs to improve alignment to clinical care standards.
3. Expand and fund programs that better manage transitions of care and optimise treatment.
4. Fund pulmonary rehabilitation programs via the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
5. Create partnerships to support research and data collection on COPD care gaps and outcomes.

 

 

References:

1. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. New standard to tackle chronic lung disease missed in half of patients. 2024. Available here.
2. Cancer Australia. Prostate cancer in Australia statistics 2025. Available here.
3. Cancer Australia. Breast cancer in Australia statistics 2025. Available here.
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2024. Available here.
5. Evohealth. 2025 Change that can’t wait: Reducing the human and economic burden of COPD in Australia. Evohealth. Canberra. Available here.
6. Soltani, A., et al. Prospective outcomes in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presenting to hospital: a generalisable clinical audit. Intern Med J, 2015. 45(9): p. 925-33.
7. Dabscheck, E., et al. COPD-X Australian guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2022 update. Medical Journal of Australia, 2022. 217(8): p. 415-423.
8. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Fourth Atlas 2021: 2.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 2021. Available here.

 

About us:

About Evohealth
Evohealth is a leading health advisory consulting firm based in Canberra that delivers evidence-based solutions for better patient care. We prioritise delivering swift and effective solutions designed to deliver better health to patients. As leading health consultants, our evidence-based approach ensures that every recommendation and solution we provide is grounded in robust research, evidence, and industry best practices. With deep sector expertise at our disposal, we’re uniquely positioned to add significant value and help solve the most pressing and complex challenges. To learn more, visit Evohealth.com.au or LinkedIn.

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Media Contacts: Houry Mayissian, 0415 685 600 or John Morton, 0416 184 044