Around 21% of problems GPs manage are cardiovascular-related
conditions and diabetes, according to a report released today by
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Approximately 11% of all problems were cardiovascular-related
(conditions involving the heart and blood vessels), around 2% were
diabetes-related, and 8% were risk factors for cardiovascular
disease such as being overweight, having high blood pressure, blood
lipid disorders or smoking cigarettes.
The report, A general practice view of cardiovascular disease
and diabetes in Australia, produced with the University of Sydney,
presents an overview of general practice care of cardiovascular
disease and diabetes. It is based on information drawn from 100,000
doctor-patient encounters between April 1998 and March 1999.
Co-author of the report, Susana Senes, said these data provide a
starting point for comparing cardiovascular disease problems and
treatment patterns in general practice, and will help build a
comprehensive picture of trends in each area over time.
'In our health care system GPs are usually the first port of
call for most patients. More than 85% of Australians visit their GP
at least once a year, so this is where cardiovascular disease and
diabetes problems are cared for first, ' Ms Senes said.
'Consultations with GPs also provide opportunities for
prevention by raising awareness of the risks associated with
certain behaviours and helping to modify them.
'However, when you look at the prevalence of overweight and
obesity (51%) and of smoking (19%) among general practice patients,
the proportion of consultations in which GPs manage these problems
is quite low.'
High blood pressure is the most commonly managed problem in
general practice and the most frequently managed cardiovascular
risk factor, at around 8.5 million consultations and 435,000 new
cases diagnosed by GPs each year.
The second most common cardiovascular risk factor managed by GPs
is diabetes, at around 2.6 million consultations annually. About
137,000 new cases of type 2 (adult onset) diabetes are diagnosed in
GPs' rooms each year.
Diabetes patients are also commonly treated for high blood
pressure, lipid disorders, depression, heart disease, urinary
disease and heart failure.
6 September 2001
Further information: Ms Susana Senes, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1171 (wk)
or tel. 0407 012 520 (mobile)
Dr Paul Magnus, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1149
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.