Report Overview

The Australian COPD Drugs market size stood at around USD xx billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD xx billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period.

In 2014 COPD was the fifth leading cause of death in Australia. In that year 7,025 people died from COPD (4.6% of all deaths). One of the best ways Australians can prevent COPD is to avoid smoking or stop smoking if already a smoker. Several new COPD inhalers have been released into the Australian market in recent years to help people manage their condition. The new NPS MedicineWise educational program will help consumers and health professionals select inhaler medicines that best match individual needs, and this drive the growth of the Australian COPD market in the forecasted period.



Market Drivers

Certain factors that are driving the market growth include an increase in incidence and prevalence of COPD, an increased number of smokers, and a growing geriatric population.

The Australian population is aging, with older Australians a growing proportion of the total population. In 2017, 15% of Australians (3.8 million) were aged 65 and over; this proportion is projected to grow steadily over the coming decades. Over 1 in 7 Australians are aged 65 and over, around half of the older Australians aged 665 and aver are women, & 3 in 10 older Australians aged 65 and over were born overseas.

In Australia, the main cause of COPD is smoking however COPD can occur in people who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives. Exposure to passive smoke, outdoor air pollution, occupational chemicals, and dust are other known risk factors. Men and women smoked a similar number of cigarettes per day in 2019an average of 13.1 and 12.9 cigarettes per day respectively in Australia.

Epidemiology

The development of COPD occurs over many years and therefore affects mainly middle-aged and older people. The prevalence of COPD increases with age, mostly occurring in people aged 45 and over.

In the 201718 ABS National Health Survey (NHS), the prevalence of COPD (captured here as self-reported emphysema and/or bronchitis) in Australians aged 45 and over was 4.8%, or an estimated 464,000 people (ABS 2018). Overall, the prevalence did not differ significantly between men and women (4.5% and 5.1% respectively) however, for those aged 5564, COPD was more prevalent in women compared with men (6.2% and 3.6%, respectively).