Determinants are factors that can influence how likely we are to stay well, or become ill or injured. Determinants can have a positive or negative impact on chronic disease. Those that have a positive effect are often referred to as protective factors those that have a negative effect are commonly referred to as risk factors.
Many chronic diseases are preventable, or react more favorably in terms of management and medical treatment, in those persons who adopt healthy behaviours, such as controlling body weight, eating nutritious foods, avoiding tobacco use, and increasing physical activity.
The table below shows some relationships between selected chronic diseases and determinants.
Table: Relationships between selected chronic diseases and determinants
| Chronic conditions |
Determinants |
| Tobacco smoking |
Physical inactivity |
Risky alcohol consumption |
Poor diet |
Obesity |
Hypertension |
High blood fats |
| Ischaemic heart disease |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stroke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Type 2 diabetes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kidney disease |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Arthritis |
(a)
|
(b)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
| Osteoporosis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lung cancer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Colorectal cancer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| COPD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Asthma |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Depression |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Oral health |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2002. Chronic diseases and associated risk factors in Australia, 2001. Canberra: AIHW.
- Relates to rheumatoid arthritis.
- Relates to osteoarthritis.
While most of these risk factors are considered to be 'adult' behaviours and conditions, the situations that lead to their initiation often begin early in life, or even in the womb. Thus it is important to have a life course perspective of chronic diseases and their risk factors, which recognises the interactive and cumulative impact of social and biological influences throughout life.
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