FAQs

FAQs presents answers to many of the frequently asked questions about the services and information on the AIHW website.

Contents

• What is cardiovascular disease?
• What are the major cardiovascular diseases?
• How many Australians have cardiovascular disease?
• What are the preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
• What are main procedures for cardiovascular disease? 

 

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What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease refers to all conditions and diseases involving the heart and blood vessels. It includes ICD-9 codes 390-459 and codes I00-I99 in ICD-10. The main underlying cause is atherosclerosis, a process that clogs blood-supply vessels with deposits of fat, cholesterol and other substances.

For more detail go to Cardiovascular Diseases page or for summary data go to Statistics. 
For general information on heart disease, go to the National Heart Foundation web site.  

For general information on stroke, go to the National Stroke Foundation website. 

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What are the major cardiovascular diseases?

In Australia, the major cardiovascular diseases include:

• coronary heart disease
• stroke
• heart failure
• peripheral vascular disease
• rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
• congenital heart disease

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How many Australians have cardiovascular disease?

In 2004-05, an estimated 3.5 million Australians, or 18% of the population, had cardiovascular conditions. 

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What are the preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease?

Major preventable risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

• tobacco smoking
• high blood pressure
• high blood cholesterol
• overweight
• physical inactivity
• nutritional factors
• type 2 diabetes
• high alcohol use

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What are the main procedures for cardiovascular disease Australia?

See Procedures. 

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For further information see Heart, Stroke and Vascular Diseases 2004 

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Last reviewed by on 1 June 2006