Age standardisation A method of removing the influence of age when comparing populations with different age structures. This is usually necessary because the rates of many diseases vary strongly (usually increasing) with age. The age structures of the different populations are converted to the same 'standard' structure, the disease rates that would have occurred with that structure are then calculated and compared.
Atherosclerosis A process in which fatty and fibre-like deposits build up on the inner walls of arteries, often forming plaques that can then cause blockages. It is the main underlying condition in heart attacks, angina, stroke and peripheral disease.
Aorta The largest artery in the body, the aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart, goes up a little way, bends over, then goes down through the chest and abdomen to where it ends by dividing into two arteries called the common iliac arteries that go to the legs.
Artery An artery is an elastic blood vessel that transports blood away from the heart. There are two main types of arteries: pulmonary arteries and systemic arteries.
Aneurysm An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel such as an artery. Aneurysms most commonly develop along the aorta (the body's main blood vessel) and in blood vessels of the brain. If an aneurysm ruptures, death can occur in minutes.
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect in which the wall that separates the upper heart chambers (atria) does not close completely during fetal development.
BMI Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres. The standard classification of BMI recommended by the World Health Organization for adults is based on the association between BMI and illness and mortality, and is as follows:
- underweight: BMI < 18.5
- healthy weight: BMI ≥ 18.5 and BMI < 25
- overweight but not obese: BMI ≥ 25 and BMI < 30
- obese: BMI ≥ 30.
Burden of disease and injury The term refers to the quantified impact of a disease or injury on an individual or population, using the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) measure.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) Any disease of the circulatory system, namely the heart (cardio) or blood vessels (vascular). Includes heart attack, angina, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. CVD is also known as circulatory disease.
Carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure where atherosclerotic plaques are surgically removed from the carotid arteries in the neck, which supply blood to the brain.
Catheter Is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. In most uses, a catheter is a thin, flexible tube ('soft' catheter), though in some uses, it is a larger, solid ('hard') catheter.
Computerised tomography (CT) brain scan A computerised tomography (CT) scan of the brain uses cross-sectional X-rays to generate an image of the brain. This image is used to distinguish between the major stroke types (blockage or bleeding) to guide treatment.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) Disease due to blockages in the heart's own (coronary) arteries, expressed as angina or a heart attack. Also known as ischaemic heart disease.
Coronary angiography A diagnostic procedure that gives a picture of the heart's arteries, known as the coronary arteries, to find out if and where they are narrowed or blocked. A catheter is guided to the heart where a special dye is released into the coronary arteries before X-rays are taken. The resulting X-ray images provide detailed information about the health of the heart and arteries.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) A surgical procedure using blood vessel grafts to bypass blockages in the coronary arteries and restore adequate blood flow to the heart muscle.
Defined daily dose Medicine use can be expressed as defined daily dose per 1,000 people per day (DDD/1,000/day). This is based on the assumed average dose per day of a medicine used for its main indication in adults. It gives an estimate of how many people per 1,000 people are taking the standard dose of the medicine each day, on average. The DDD enables valid comparisons between medicines, independent of differences in price, preparation and quantity per prescription. However, it has several limitations. As the DDD is based on international experience, it does not necessarily reflect the recommended or average prescribed dose in Australia. This measure assumes that the amount of medicine supplied is the same as the amount used, but this is not always the case. Note also that the DDD is calculated for the whole population, while medicine use may be concentrated in certain age groups or a particular sex.
Diaphragm The diaphragm is the major muscle of respiration and separates the thoracic and
abdominal cavities.
Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) A year of healthy life lost, either through premature death or equivalently through living with disability due to illness or injury.
High blood pressure The definition of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can vary but the one used here is from the World Health Organization: a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or more or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or more, or [the person is] receiving medication for high blood pressure.
High cholesterol Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver and carried by the blood to the rest of the body. Its natural function is to provide material for cell walls and for steroid hormones. If levels in the blood are too high, this can lead to an artery-clogging process known as atherosclerosis that can trigger heart attacks, angina or stroke. In general, a total cholesterol level of 5.5 mmol/L or more is considered high.
Impaired glucose regulation Impaired glucose regulation is the metabolic state between normal glucose regulation and diabetes (WHO 1999). There are two categories of impaired glucose regulation: impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IFG and IGT are not considered to be clinical entities in their own right but rather risk factors for the future development of diabetes.
Inadequate fruit intake is defined as less than two serves of fruit per day for adults and less than three serves a day for children and adolescents aged 15–18 years.
Inadequate vegetable intake is defined as less than five serves of vegetables per day for adults and less than four serves a day for children and adolescents aged 15–18 years.
Incidence The number of new cases (of illness or event, and so on) occurring during a given period. Compare with prevalence.
Other Australians People who are not of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, or whose status is not known.
Patent ductal arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus fails to close normally in an infant soon after birth (the word 'patent' means open). The condition leads to abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery, two major blood vessels that carry blood from the heart.
Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) Therapeutic procedures used to restore adequate blood flow to blocked coronary arteries. Two types of procedure are used: coronary angioplasty without stent, and coronary stenting. Coronary angioplasty involves inserting a catheter with a small balloon into a coronary artery which is inflated to clear the blockage. Coronary stenting is similar, but involves the insertion of stents (expandable mesh tubes) into the affected coronary arteries. Of all PCIs performed in 2007–08, nearly 94% involved stenting.
Physical inactivity 'Sedentary' or 'low' levels of exercise from the National Health Survey have been used to indicate whether people are physically inactive. For more information, see Prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease: targeting risk factors.
Plaque A localised area of atherosclerosis, especially when raised or built up and that may cause blockages in arteries.
Prevalence The number or proportion (of cases or instances) present in a population at a given time. Compare with incidence.
Public hospital A hospital controlled by a state or territory health authority. In Australia public hospitals offer free diagnostic services, treatment, care and accommodation to all Australians who need them.
Pulmonary valve stenosis Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart valve disorder that involves the pulmonary valve. This valve separates the right ventricle (one of the chambers in the heart) and the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. Stenosis occurs when the valve cannot open wide enough. As a result, less blood flows to the lungs.
Quintile A group derived by ranking the population of people or elements according to specified criteria and dividing it into five equal parts. The term can also mean the cut-points that make these divisions (that is, the 20th, 50th and 75th percentiles) but the first use is the more common one.
Risk factor is any factor which increases the likelihood of a person developing a health disorder or condition.
Socioeconomic status From information collected in the Census of Population and Housing, the Australian Bureau of Statistic (ABS) has developed the Socio-economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFAs) to allow ranking of regions/areas to provide a method of determining the level of social and economic wellbeing in that region. The Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage\Disadvantage, is a continuum of advantage (high values) to disadvantage (low values) that takes into account variables like the proportion of families with high incomes, people with a tertiary education, and employees in skilled occupations. For further information see the ABS Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing - Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2006 (cat. no. 2039.0).
Stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure.
Ventricular septal defect Describes one or more holes in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. Ventricular septal defect is one of the most common congenital (present from birth) heart defects. It may occur by itself or with other congenital diseases.
Years lived with disability (YLD) Years of life lived with disability or illness or the years of life lost through disability or illness.
Years of life lost (YLL) Years of life lost due to premature death.