The incidence of heart attack in Australia fell by 20% between
1993-94 and 1999-00, according to a new report released today by
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Hospital admission rates for heart attack fell by 12% over the
same period.
And not only are Australians suffering fewer heart attacks, they
are surviving them better-fatality rates for heart attack cases
fell by 12-16% over the same six-year period.
The results come on top of an overall 30% drop in death rates
from coronary heart disease over the same six-year period.
But the author of Epidemic of Coronary Heart Disease and its
Treatment in Australia, Sushma Mathur, says that despite the
great improvements, coronary heart disease remains one of the
nation's greatest health challenges.
'There were still over 48,000 major coronary events in Australia
in 1999-00, or 132 per day. Half of these were fatal.'
Ms Mathur said that major advances had been made over the last
20 years in medical care procedures for people suffering heart
attacks.
'There has been a rapid increase in revascularisation procedures
such as coronary angioplasty and cardiac bypass surgery, which aim
to overcome the blockages that occur in the heart's arteries.
'During hospital stays for heart attack about 1 in 8 patients
now have coronary angioplasty, and 1 in 20 cardiac bypass
surgery.
'There have also been large increases in prescriptions of
cholesterol-lowering and some blood pressure lowering drugs.
'These measures, as well as declines in tobacco smoking and high
blood pressure, have played a part in lowering heart disease
incidence and death rates.'
The report shows that men are twice as likely as women to be
hospitalised for heart attack, or have coronary disease and die
from it.
The elderly are more likely to be admitted to hospital for heart
attack, but less likely to receive revascularisation procedures
than people aged 40-64 years.
19 September 2002
Further information: Ms Sushma Mathur, AIHW,
tel. 0407 915 851,
Dr Paul Magnus, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1149
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for detail.