The number of Kiwis impacted by respiratory disease has risen to 1 million, according to a new report by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation released its 2023 Impact of Respiratory Disease in New Zealand report, finding one in five Kiwis were now affected by a respiratory disease compared to one in seven in its 2021 report.
“These numbers are not just statistics — they represent our whānau and our tamariki, who are struggling to breathe every single day,” said the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s chief executive Letitia Harding.
Respiratory disease was the third leading cause of death in New Zealand and accounted for one in 11 hospital stays at a cost of $8.4 billion to the country per year.
Lead author on the report and University of Otago Wellington senior researcher at the Department of Public Health Dr Lucy Telfar-Barnard said access to new data highlighted the true scope of respiratory disease in New Zealand.
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation has released its 2023 Impact of Respiratory Disease in New Zealand report. (Source: 1News)
However, she pointed out that the data showed the positive impact Covid-19 restrictions had on reducing respiratory disease rates and hospitalisations for at-risk populations.
“While we’re not suggesting a return to those extreme measures, there are practical steps we can take [such as] staying home when sick, keeping flu vaccinations up to date, and ensuring good ventilation in our homes, schools, and workplaces,” she said.
Harding said the new findings showed how many families were impacted by chronic and serious lung conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“These numbers also tell a story of a child missing school or a parent waking up in the middle of the night in fear, having to rush their child to the hospital,” she said.
The foundation’s medical director professor Bob Hancox said respiratory disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continued to cause a great deal of suffering in New Zealand, but acknowledged there had been some progress.
Hospitalisations from asthma and COPD have already exceeded the Foundation’s target of a 25% reduction by 2025, he said.
“We must acknowledge that far too many people still suffer unnecessarily from conditions that could be prevented or treated more effectively.”