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released: 16 Apr 2010 author: AIHW media release

Despite a dramatic reduction since the late 1960s, cardiovascular disease remains the largest cause of death in Australia. Cardiovascular disease mortality: trends at different ages examines recent data to determine if the observed decrease in cardiovascular disease deaths since the 1960s is shared across disease sub-types and among different population groups. This report includes information on the past and recent trends of key cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke, and describes how trends vary on the basis of age group and sex. International trends are also presented for comparison. The analyses presented in this report help to better understand what is driving the observed decrease in cardiovascular disease deaths, and are a useful resource for policy makers, researchers and health professionals interested in cardiovascular diseases.

ISSN 1323-9236; ISBN 978-1-74249-000-7; Cat. no. CVD 47; 93pp.; Internet only

Summary

This report looks at recent mortality trends over time in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its main component diseases, across different age and sex groups.

Death rates for total CVD and each of its component diseases: coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure/cardiomyopathy, rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease all fell between 1987 and 2006.

The main contributors to the overall trend for CVD are CHD and stroke, which have both shown substantial annual falls over the 20 years to 2006.

The annual decline in death rates for heart failure/cardiomyopathy has been accelerating.

The annual decline in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease has been smaller than for CHD and stroke.

For CHD and stroke mortality:

  • recent declines have been greatest among people aged 55-74 years
  • the average annual rate of decline has accelerated among older people (65 years and over)
  • the rate of decline for CHD has slowed among younger people (aged 35-54 years)
  • the rate of decline for stroke has slowed among younger women (aged 35-54 years).

Despite the falls observed, death rates from CHD remain higher than those in many other developed countries, indicating the potential for further declines. The situation is similar for stroke.

For the Australian population as a whole, there have been:

  • favourable trends in smoking rates and blood pressure levels
  • little evidence of national change in blood cholesterol levels
  • unfavourable trends in physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes prevalence.

It is not possible to say how these trends have combined to affect the overall risk of CVD for Australians.

Improvements in medical care and treatment have also contributed to the declines in death rates from CHD and stroke.

The ageing of Australia's population, combined with the observed acceleration of the rate of decline in CHD and stroke death rates among older people, will lead to increased numbers of older Australians in coming years. This has important implications for the allocation of resources for preventative, medical and care services.

Recommended citation

AIHW 2010. Cardiovascular disease mortality: trends at different ages. Cardiovascular disease series no. 31. Cat. no. CVD 47. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 12 June 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468344>.