Diabetes contributes to around 9,500 deaths in Australia each
year, according to a new report by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare.
Diabetes as a Cause of Death, Australia 1997 and 1998
shows that diabetes is twice as likely to be listed as an
'associated' cause rather than the 'underlying' cause of death on
death certificates (5.2% compared with 2.2% of all deaths).
The report shows that Indigenous Australians are twice as likely
to die from diabetes-related deaths (underlying or associated) as
non-Indigenous Australians. This difference is substantially higher
among the 35-44 age group, where the proportion of deaths among
Indigenous Australians is six times that of non-Indigenous
Australians.
Diabetes-related mortality in the most disadvantaged group of
Australians was 38% higher than in the least disadvantaged group;
for women in the most disadvantaged group, the proportion of
diabetes-related deaths was 67% higher.
Diabetes-related mortality is higher in remote areas of
Australia than in urban and rural areas, which is explained by the
fact that Indigenous Australians account for two-thirds of
diabetes-related deaths in remote areas.
Co-author of the report, Sushma Mathur, said when diabetes is
listed as a cause of death on death certificates, diseases of the
circulatory and genito-urinary systems are also commonly listed.
Among Indigenous Australians this association is even stronger than
for other Australians.
'This strong association is not surprising given that Type 2
diabetes shares several risk factors with diseases of the
circulatory system (for example obesity, physical inactivity and
poor nutrition in foetal and early infant life),' Ms Mathur
said.
'Diabetes is itself a risk factor for diseases of the
circulatory system and it is known to enhance the effects of other
risk factors such as hypertension and smoking.'
Other findings in the report include:
- Diabetes-related mortality is substantially higher among older
Australians, and given the growing number of elderly Australians
this mortality burden is expected to become more pronounced over
the next few decades.
- Among the States and Territories, diabetes-related mortality is
highest in the Northern Territory (explained by a higher
concentration of Indigenous Australians) and lowest in the
Australian Capital Territory.
- In Australia, males are 1.6 times as likely as females to die
from diabetes-related deaths.
30 November 2000
Further
information: Sushma Mathur, tel. 0419 296 053 (mob.)
For media
copies of the report: Publications Officer, tel. 02 6244
1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.