General
Respiratory diseases account for 9% of Australia’s total health burden but receive only 2% of national medical research funding (Abisheganaden et al., 2026).
- Across 66 communities in Victoria, Australia, days with a higher combined weather and air pollution risk score were consistently associated with more deaths, hospital admissions and emergency department visits for all causes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease (Li et al., 2026).
- In Victoria, Australia, high-risk weather and air pollution days occurred more often in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, lower-income areas and communities with older populations (Li et al., 2026).
