The Current State of Heart Conditions in Australia
July 11, 2024
No Comments
The Current State of Heart Conditions in Australia
The Current State of Heart Conditions in Australia
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, remains a significant public health issue in Australia, despite advances in medical research and treatment. As of 2024, heart conditions continue to be one of the leading causes of death and illness in the country, although there have been some positive trends in reducing their impact over the years.
Prevalence and Impact
Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in Australia, with over 4 million Australians living with some form of CVD. This represents about one in six Australians. More specifically, 6.7% of the adult population, or approximately 1.3 million people, are living with heart, stroke, or vascular disease, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). These conditions are more common among men (7.6%) than women (5.8%), and their prevalence increases with age, affecting nearly 28% of adults aged 75 and over (Australian Bureau of Statistics, AIHW).
The burden of CVD is not uniformly distributed across the population. Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and those living in regional and remote areas are disproportionately affected. Indigenous Australians, for example, are almost twice as likely to die from heart disease as non-Indigenous Australians (Heart Foundation Australia).
Mortality and Hospitalisation
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for about 24% of all deaths in Australia, equating to around 120 deaths per day. Ischaemic heart disease, in particular, remains the leading single cause of death, claiming approximately 17,331 lives in 2021 alone. The burden on the healthcare system is substantial, with CVD accounting for 1.2 million hospitalisations each year—about one hospitalisation every minute. This makes CVD the leading cause of hospital admissions, representing 11% of all hospital-related expenditures (Heart Research Institute, AIHW).
Risk Factors and Disparities
A range of risk factors contributes to the high prevalence of CVD in Australia, including smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, and high blood pressure. Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, the rates of hospitalisation and death due to CVD are significantly higher, and these conditions tend to occur 10 to 20 years earlier than in non-Indigenous Australians. Moreover, people living in remote areas face a 35% higher rate of hospitalisation due to CVD compared to those in major cities (Heart Research Institute).
Trends and Future Outlook
The prevalence of CVD has been decreasing over time, largely due to better awareness, improved medical treatments, and public health interventions. Since the 1980s, there has been an approximate 80% decline in the prevalence of CVD, which is a significant public health achievement. However, despite these improvements, CVD remains a major health challenge, particularly for vulnerable populations. Continued efforts in prevention, early detection, and equitable access to healthcare services are crucial to further reducing the burden of heart disease in Australia (Heart Foundation Australia).
For more detailed information and statistics, you can explore resources from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Heart Foundation(AIHW, Heart Research Institute).
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Email
About Director
William Wright
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Recent posts
Follow us on
Facebook
Pinterest
WhatsApp
LinkedIn
Twitter