1. Respiratory medication use in Australia 2003–2013: Treatment of asthma and COPD AIHW: Correll PK, Poulos LM, Ampon R, Reddel HK and Marks GB. Published 5 May 2015 Available at www.aihw.gov.au

2. Data sources

3. Note: Self-reported frequency of SABA use in the last 4 weeks, NSW, 2009, 2010 and 2012 (combined data), people aged 2 and over Use of SABA for Asthma (NSW Health Survey) Proportion of people with current asthma in each frequency category Source: NSW Health Survey Program, NSW Ministry of Health 2009, 2010, 2012.

4. Trends in frequency of dispensing ICS-containing medications Proportion of concession card holders dispensed any ICS (as % of all Australian concession card holders) Proportions of concession card holders dispensed any ICS Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health.

5. Variations in ICS dispensing patterns by age (2013) Proportion of Australian populationProportions of Australian population dispensed any ICS Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health.

6. Variations in ICS dispensing patterns in children by remoteness Proportion (%) of child populationProportions (%) of child population dispensed any ICS Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. Note: Children aged 0–14 years, 2013

7. Variations in ICS dispensing patterns in adults by remoteness Note: Adults aged 15 and over, 2013 Proportion (%) of adult populationProportions (%) of adult population dispensed any ICS Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health.

8. Potency of ICS dispensed in 2013 Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. ICS potency category and age group (years) Proportion (%) of Australian children Proportion (%) of Australian adults 2–3 4–6 7–12 13+ 1 and 1+ other resp meds 1 and no other resp meds No. ICS scripts dispensed per year

9. Potency of ICS Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. Proportion of people dispensed any ICS in 2013

10. Note: Concession card holders aged 15 and over Trends in potency of ICS dispensed Sources: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Proportion of concession card holders dispensed any ICS (as % of all Australian concession card holders) Proportions of concession card holders dispensed any ICS

11. Potency of ICS (Seretide) Sources: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Note: Concession card holders aged 15 and over Proportion of concession card holders dispensed Seretide (as % of all Australian concession card holders) Proportions of concession card holders dispensed Seretide

12. Potency of ICS (Symbicort) Sources: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Note: Concession card holders aged 15 and over Proportion of concession card holders dispensed Symbicort (as % of all Australian concession card holders) Proportions of concession card holders dispensed Symbicort

13. Combined ICS and long acting beta 2 -agonist formulations Sources: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Proportion (%) of Australian population dispensed ICS/LABA in 2013 2–3 4–6 7–12 13+ 1 and 1+ other resp meds 1 and no other resp meds No. ICS/LABA scripts dispensed in 2013

14. Self-reported use of ICS for asthma (NSW Health Survey) Note: Self-reported frequency of ICS use in the last 4 weeks, NSW, 2009, 2010 and 2012 (combined data), Children aged 2–14, adults aged 15+ Source: NSW Health Survey Program, NSW Ministry of Health 2009, 2010, 2012. Proportion of people with current asthma in each frequency category

15. Oral corticosteroids Sources: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Proportion (%) of people dispensed OCS (and any respiratory medication) in 2013

16. Long-acting bronchodilators (LABA and LAMA) dispensed without ICS Sources: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Proportion (%) of the population dispensed LABA, LAMA or both LABA and LAMA, without any ICS within the same year (2013)

17. Anti-immunoglobulin E therapy (omalizumab) Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. No. omalizumab scripts dispensed per month Cumulative frequency

18. Anti-immunoglobulin E therapy (omalizumab) Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. No. new patients dispensed omalizumab per month Cumulative frequency

19. Anti-immunoglobulin E therapy (omalizumab) Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. Proportion of people still taking omalizumab

20. Leukotriene receptor antagonists Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health. Proportion (%) of Australian childrenProportions of children dispensed LTRA 2–3 4–6 7–12 13+ 1 and 1+ other resp meds 1 and no other resp meds No. LTRA scripts dispensed in 2013

21. Leukotriene receptor antagonists Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Department of Health; Estimated Resident Population, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Proportion (%) of Australian childrenProportions of children dispensed LTRA 2–3 4–6 7–12 13+ 1 and 1+ other resp meds 1 and no other resp meds No. LTRA scripts dispensed in 2013

22. People dispensed preventer inhalers in 2013 Probably do not need preventers* Infrequent* use of preventers Regular* use of preventers * medication history suggests unlikely to have chronic respiratory disease * medication history suggests dispensing consistent with regular use * medication history suggests dispensing inconsistent with infrequent use