Chronic diseases and associated risk factors

By their very definition, chronic diseases are those involving a long course in their development or their symptoms. They are a major health problem in all developed countries, accounting for a high proportion of deaths, disability and illness. Yet many of these diseases are preventable, or their onset can be delayed, by relatively simple measures. 

Four things you need to know about chronic diseases:

1. Chronic diseases are not new to public health and medicine.
   While some chronic diseases such as diabetes and arthritis have been known for centuries, infectious diseases dominated the health scene until the 19th century. For various reasons, including the fact that more people are living to older age, chronic diseases have increased in prevalence over the past century and today they affect one in four Australians.
    
2. Chronic diseases have a prolonged course of illness.
   Most chronic diseases do not resolve spontaneously and are generally not cured completely. Some can be immediately life-threatening, such as heart attack and stroke; other are often serious, including various cancers, depression and diabetes. However, they all persist in an individual through life (but are not always the cause of death).
    
3. Chronic diseases contribute much to illness, disability and mortality.
   The top 10 causes of disease burden in Australia are chronic diseases. These diseases alone account for nearly 43% of the total disease burden in Australia (see Figure below).
   

   Figure: Top ten leading causes of disease burden in DALYs* terms, Australia, 1996

   Note: *DALY counts equivalent years of 'healthy' life lost due to poor health or disability and potential years of life lost due to premature death. Source: AIHW: Mathers et al 1999. The burden of disease and injury in Australia. AIHW Cat. No. PHE 17. Canberra: AIHW.

4. Chronic diseases are largely preventable.
   Adopting healthy behaviours such as controlling body weight, eating nutritious foods, avoiding tobacco use, controlling alcohol consumption and increasing physical activity can prevent or delay the development of many chronic diseases. 

The focus

This site covers 12 preventable chronic diseases that pose a significant burden in terms of morbidity, mortality and health care costs in Australia. Information is also provided on 7 risk factors associated with these diseases. The choice of diseases and risk factors covered here was determined by the following criteria:

• They show features typical of chronic diseases in their development or clinical course
• They contribute significantly to the burden of disease
• They offer major prospects for prevention
• Their risk factors are modifiable at both population and individual levels. 

For further information on the selection process, see the National Public Health Partnership publication Preventing chronic disease: a strategic framework. 

For more detail on specific chronic diseases and risk factors, click the links on the drop-down list on the top left side of the page. You can also see some of the statistical information about the chronic diseases and risk factors by following the links on the drop-down list of 'Statistics' .

Many of the pages on this site have links to other sites and publications on the AIHW website and to other websites.

Indicators for chronic disease

A range of national indicators relevant to chronic disease and associated risk factors have been developed by various national bodies. These have been compiled by the AIHW into the Chronic Disease Indicators Database.

 

Last reviewed by on 23 June 2005