Disability associated with chronic diseases

The chronic diseases covered on this web site can limit the ability of people who have them to take part in normal activities of daily living. For example, arthritis often results in impairment of the mobility of joints or bones and asthma the function of the lungs. People who suffer from depression may be unable to relate effectively with others, while those who have had a stroke may need others to help them with daily activities such as bathing and grooming. It is now recognised that the concepts of functioning and disability involve a range of body impairments and activity limitations. A detailed definition of disability can be found here.

Information on disability in Australia comes from a variety of sources, the most prominent of which are the ABS National Surveys of Disability, Ageing and Carers. These surveys not only provide information on the extent of disability but also help identify diseases and conditions that contribute to this disability. A list of the conditions included in the ABS definition of disability can be found here. 

According to the 2003 survey, 3.9 million Australians, or 20% of the population, had a disability. Among those with a disability, 1.1 million (27% of all people with a disability) had one of the chronic diseases or conditions covered on this web site as their main disabling condition.

Arthritis and related disorders were on top of the list (Figure 1). More than 560,000 Australians (14% of all people with a disability) reported arthritis and related disorders as their main disabling condition, resulting in restricted mobility from severe joint pain.

Asthma (121,000) and depression (99,000) were the second and fourth most common of the conditions related to disability, often resulting in reduced attendance at school or work. Stroke (108,000) was another common condition among people with disability, with up to 75% of sufferers needing assistance with self-care, mobility or communication.

Figure 1: Number of people with a disability associated with chronic diseases and conditions, Australia, 2003

Notes: Arthritis & related disorder includes 3 large categories: infectious arthropathies, inflammatory polyarthropathies and arthrosis. Diabetes includes Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Source: The AIHW analysis of the 2003 ABS National Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers confidentialised unit record file.

Links:

See the AIHW web site Functioning and Disability for further discussion of the definition of disability.
For other useful information on disability statistics see the AIHW publication Disability and its relationship to health conditions and other factors and the AIHW data cube Interactive disability data.

Last reviewed by on 23 June 2005