August 2025 Blog: Chronic Condition Management Plans Are Not Just for the Elderly: Putting Childhood Asthma in Focus
When we think about chronic conditions and care planning, we often picture older adults managing multiple health issues. While that is true for many chronic diseases, asthma is different because it often starts in childhood and affects people of all ages, with management needs that change over time.
Asthma Prevalence and Impact
Asthma is particularly common in childhood. Around 10% of children live with asthma, and prevalence peaks at 15% among boys aged 5 to 9. However, the gender pattern shifts with age. While boys are more likely to have asthma in the 0 to 14 age group, women aged 15 to 24 years and 34 to 44 years are about 5% more likely than men to experience asthma (ABS, 2023).
Asthma significantly impacts the quality of life for many adults and children. In 2022, Asthma was the leading cause of total disease burden in children aged 1 to 9 years and was the underlying cause of death for 467 people (AIHW 2024). Unfortunately, about 65% of people living with asthma also have one or more other chronic conditions, increasing the complexity of their treatment and management (AIHW, 2024).
Asthma prevalence is also higher among other vulnerable populations, including children with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and children from low socioeconomic areas. Asthma prevalence among children living with a disability was twice as high (18%) compared with children without a disability (9%) (AIHW 2022). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0 to 14 were 6% more likely to have asthma than non-Indigenous children.
Primary Care’s Role
One of the key strengths of primary care is prevention, early detection, and management of Asthma. By intervening early, families can be supported throughout a child’s asthma journey, helping ensure appropriate management from the start. Most providers do an excellent job of supplying preschool and school documentation for children, such as asthma action plans and prescriptions. However, many children still lack a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) that offers a structured and proactive approach to care. Even if the patient is not currently accessing available allied health services, a GPCCMP involving regular reviews by the primary care team, to monitor medication management needs and the asthma action plan could help reduce unnecessary hospitalisations.
Medication Challenges
A particular challenge in managing asthma is not just the range of medications, but also the variety of delivery mechanisms. Unlike oral medications, where people might simply ask “Should I take this with food?”, asthma treatment also depends heavily on correct inhaler technique, device care, and spacer use, all of which can greatly impact medication adherence. This concern is backed by data showing that 27% of people under 40 years have poor asthma control, based on their medication use (AIHW 2024).
GP Chronic Condition Management Plans
Regular reviews are a key feature of the recent changes to the Chronic Disease Management Framework. Equalising the rebates for preparing and reviewing a GPCCMP highlights the importance of ongoing reviews. For children with asthma, this means more frequent assessments of triggers, which can vary widely between individuals, as well as recognising that needs change as children grow. Ongoing education about trigger avoidance and correct medication use further reinforces the value of a structured and proactive approach. Supporting families in this way may help reduce hospitalisations and contribute to closing the gap in asthma outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and other priority groups.
Practical Steps to Improve Asthma Prevention, Early Detection and Management
Asthma – GP Chronic Condition Management Plan
- Review your patient list for individuals with asthma who do not have a current chronic condition management plan and consider recalls.
- Update your asthma templates for both adults and children to align with the latest Australian asthma guidelines.
- Incorporate checks of inhaler technique and medication reviews as part of GP management plan appointments.
Templates
- Ensure asthma templates include prompts for asthma action plans, growth monitoring (for children) and device checks.
- Use Asthma Week or other awareness campaigns as prompts to book patient reviews and update asthma action plans.
Tools
- Consider a Home Medicines Review (HMR) MBS item 900 for patients with Asthma who are not meeting their therapeutic goals.
- Consider use of videos and other resources to assist patients with accurate technique. Check out the video library from National Asthma Council and Asthma Australia.
Spirometry
- Ensure that all staff are up to date with training for diagnosis and ongoing management (Join us for a Clinical Skills Spirometry Workshop).
Focus on Asthma This Month with the CDM Plus Health Promotion Box
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Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance care, engage families, and reduce asthma-related hospitalisations. Order your box today and empower your team to make a real difference in asthma outcomes!
Sources:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-respiratory-conditions/asthma
