The Health Status of Australians Current trends Major causes of Illness Major causes of death Groups experiencing Inequalities

 

The Health Status of Australians

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Current trends

Life expectancy - Australia's Life expectancy has been increasing steadily over the last century. As reported in the 2006 AIHW report, Females in Australia have a life expectancy of 83 years and males 78.1 years.

This is due to a number of factors including:

- decreased infant and child mortality

- decreased death rates of the elderly

- new technology in detection and treatment of disease

- improved living conditions

 

 

Disease	Prevalence	Mortality	Comments
CVD	decreasing	decreasing	improved technology, changes in lifestyle eg: decreased rates of tobacco smoking.
Cancer	increasing (breast,skin and prostate)	decreasing (slightly - except melanoma and women from lung cancer) major causes men - lung, prostate. Women - breast, lung	more common in males except in 25-49 years due to cervival and breast cancer.
Injuries	unintentional- declining (rta)                             Intentional - increasing	declining	leading cause of death for young people
Mental Health	increasing	declining
Diabetes	increasing
Asthma	decreasing	declining
Arthritis & Musculoskeletal	increasing slightly

 

 

Major causes of Illness

 

Repiratory conditions including asthma, cold and influenza.

Mental Health

 

 

Major causes of death

1. CVD - (ischaemic heart disease, stroke, other heart disease)

2. Cancer (Males - Lung then Prostate. Females - Breast then Lung)

3. Diabetes

4. respiratory disease

5. Accidents

6. Suicide

 

Groups experiencing Inequalities

Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders

- much lower life expectancy - (16-20yrs)

- Much higher mortality rates

- Infant mortality rates 2-3 times higher than general population

- Higher prevalence of CVD, Cancer, Injuries, Diabetes

 

Socioeconomically disadvantaged

- higher infant mortality

- higher mortality rates (poor living conditions, lower education levels, higher substance abuse)

- more likely to suffer from disability, chronic illness.

- less likely to use preventative health services.

 

Australians Born Overseas

- Generally arrive in better health than the average Australian (only well off can generally afford to migrate) but gradually decreases overtime due to language barriers, lower pay and difficulty adapting to way of life, mental health problems and difficulty utilising  health services.

- Lower mortality rates

- Lower morbidity rates

- Lower wages

 

 

People living in rural and isolated areas

- Higher mortality rates for CVD, Cancer, respiratory disease & injury

- Major increase in suicides

- Lower life expectancy 

causes include - lower s.e.s, access to health services and resources, occupational hazards

 

 

People with disabilites

- higher rates of disability in males compared to female.

- Higher rates of disability in rural areas.

- Aboriginals have twice the number of people with a severe disability as the general population.

People with disabilities may suffer health inequities due to difficulty maintaining employment, lower s.e.s, difficulty accessing appropriate health care and social stigma. 

 

men & women

Women have a higher life expectancy then men.

Women are more likely to access health services and have lower rates of most major causes of illness and death. Exceptions include breast cancer and lung cancer is increasing in women.

Men have a higher rate of suicide & mortality due to road trauma (particularly young males).

Men are at greater risk of injury due to work.

 

older people

- Australia has an aging population

- Older people have higher rates of disability

- Older people have a greater demand for health services

- Lower S.E.S.

- Higher morbidity and mortality rates