A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW) says thousands of hospitalisations and deaths
from cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary heart disease
and stroke, could be avoided if rates among the least advantaged
were the same as those from the more socioeconomically advantages
areas of Australia.
The report, Socioeconomic inequalities in cardiovascular
disease in Australia: Current patterns and trends since 1992,
shows that in 2002, adults from the most disadvantaged areas of
Australia (areas characterised by low income, low educational
attainment and unemployment) had significantly higher death rates
from cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and
stroke than adults from the least disadvantaged areas-between 1.6
and 1.9 times as high.
Ms Lynelle Moon, of the Institute's Cardiovascular Disease and
Diabetes Unit said, 'If everyone experienced the same death rates
as those in the more socioeconomically advantaged areas, around 28%
of deaths from cardiovascular disease, 32% of deaths from coronary
heart disease and 24% of deaths from stroke might have been avoided
in 2002. This translates to over 3,400 deaths which may be regarded
as being due to socioeconomic inequality.'
Despite falls in CVD death rates between 1992 and 2002 for all
socioeconomic groups, the proportion of those deaths due to
socioeconomic inequality has increased over the same period.
Compared with those in more socioeconomically advantaged areas,
in 2003-04, adults living in the most disadvantaged areas of
Australia also had significantly higher hospitalisation rates for
all types of cardiovascular disease, including coronary emergencies
and stroke.
'Again, if everyone experienced the same hospitalisation rates
as those in the most advantaged areas, around 16% of all CVD
hospitalisations, and 38% of emergency coronary heart disease and
24% of stroke hospitalisations, might have been avoided in 2003-04.
This translates to almost 45,400 CVD hospitalisations,' Ms Moon
said.
Despite falls in hospitalisation rates for all socioeconomic
groups between 1996-97 and 2003-04 the proportion of
hospitalisations due to socioeconomic inequality increased
substantially for acute coronary syndrome, from 19% to 32% for
males and from 28% to 41% for females.
2 August 2006
Further information: Ms Lynelle Moon AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1235.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Socioeconomic inequalities in
cardiovascular disease in Australia: Current patterns and trends
since 1992.