Between 2019 and 2023, national dispensing of budesonide/ formoterol maintenance and/or reliever regimens markedly increased and asthma hospitalisations reduced in both Māori and non-Māori, with a greater reduction in asthma hospitalisations for Māori. Dispensing of budesonide/formoterol increased by 111% and 115% for Māori and non-Māori, respectively. Asthma hospital discharges reduced from 142.5 to 97.3 per 100,000 for Māori (absolute difference 45.2 per 100,000; 32% reduction) and from 49.4 to 37.9 per 100,000 for non Māori (absolute difference 11.5 per 100,000; 23% reduction). The study authors noted that despite the reduction in health inequities, asthma hospitalisation rates remained two and a half times greater for Māori compared with non-Māori.
