Rheumatic heart disease: all but forgotten in Australia except among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
This bulletin describes the population patterns of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia today using data obtained from regional registers and national databases.
Commonwealth rent assistance, June 2002: a profile of recipients
Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) is a non-taxable income supplement paid through Centrelink to individuals and families who rent in the private rental market. This bulletin addresses the characteristics of CRA recipients; the accommodation used by CRA recipients; the Centrelink client groups receiving CRA; comparison of CRA recipients with Centrelink clients living in public housing; and the effect of CRA on housing affordability.
Health, wellbeing and body weight: characteristics of overweight and obesity in Australia, 2001
Overweight, and in particular obesity, is known to be associated with numerous adverse health conditions. This bulletin, which complements other work produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on overweight and obesity, investigates the relationship between this growing public health problem and a number of health-related characteristics using national estimates from the 2001 National Health Survey.
Obesity trends in older Australians
This bulletin examines levels and trends in the prevalence of obesity in the context of an ageing populations and the likely health and economic consequences. The focus is confined to obesity rather than lesser degrees of overweight because obesity has significant health consequences at all ages. The findings will inform policy makers and program deliverers who have the task of tackling the obesity problem, particularly among older Australians.
Are all Australians gaining weight?: differentials in overweight and obesity among adults, 1989-90 to 2001
This bulletin presents the results of analyses of the prevalence of overweight and obesity for a range of different subgroups of Australian adults over the period 1989-90 to 2001. These comparisons between subgroups are referred to as differentials. The characteristics examined include basic demographic details (age and sex), place of residence, socioeconomic status, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status and ethnicity.
Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2001-02, findings from the National Minimum Data Set
The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) is a nationally agreed set of common data items collected by government-funded service providers for clients registered for alcohol and other drug treatment services that is routinely collected by States and Territories to monitor treatment services within their jurisdiction.
A picture of diabetes in overseas-born Australians
This bulletin describes patterns of diabetes prevalence, hospitalisations and deaths amongst Australians who were born overseas and compares these patterns with their Australian-born counterparts. This analysis is important because it contributes to the planning and management of diabetes services for people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
A growing problem: trends and patterns in overweight and obesity among adults in Australia, 1980 to 2001
This bulletin documents the evidence from national cross-sectional surveys of overweight and obesity among adults in Australia during the past two decades, puts the size of the problem in perspective, and compares the prevalence in Australia with the prevalence in other developed countries. Future bulletins will focus on trends by socio-demographic and economic factors, and on the impact of overweight and obesity in Australia in terms of a number of health-related measures.
Coronary revascularisation in Australia, 2000
Heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia, responsible for 20% of deaths in 2000. The most common form of heart disease affecting Australians is coronary heart disease. This involves blockages in the heart's own blood supply, the coronary arteries, by abnormal build-ups known as plaques. Two main procedures can be used to overcome the blockages by either reducing or bypassing them. Jointly known as coronary revascularisation procedures, they are percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This bulletin examines current patterns in coronary revascularisation procedures and explores reason for their marked increase over the last decade. To this end, data presented in this bulletin are drawn from two data sources: the national registers on cardiac surgery and coronary angioplasty (collected by calendar year) and the AIHW's National Hospital Morbidity Database (collected by financial year). The latest information available from the national registers was 1999, so data are supplemented by hospital morbidity data and reported in calendar year for comparative purposes.
Medical labour force 2000
This report presents findings from the annual Medical Labour Force Survey for 2000. It is condensed compared with reports released of previous surveys, for the purpose of accelerating the release of updated data and pending the release of results of the 2001 survey which are expected to be available later in 2003. Where appropriate, comparisons have been made with data drawn from earlier Medical Labour Force Surveys.
Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia: findings from the National Minimum Data Set 2000-01
The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) is a nationally agreed set of common data items collected by government-funded service providers for clients registered for alcohol and other drug treatment services that is routinely collected by States and Territories to monitor treatment services within their jurisdiction.
Seasonality of death
Deaths are predictable to some extent, in that they occur more often for particular causes such as cardiovascular disease or cancers, or at older ages, or within vulnerable population groups. Deaths also tend to occur more often at certain times of the year. In Australia, as in other developed countries, most deaths occur in colder months. Deaths attributable to a number of specific causes follow a yearly cycle, peaking in winter and occurring less frequently in summer. Deaths for some causes are also more frequent on certain days of the week, or even at certain times of the day.This bulletin will examine these patterns of death to see how deaths vary by day, by month and by season, and whether these patterns have changed over time.
Australian health inequalities: birthplace
Persons born overseas generally enjoy better health than Australia-born persons do, if gauged by such measures as mortality and hospitalisations rates and the prevalence of lifestyle-related health risk factors.These inequalities are largely explained by the 'healthy migrant effect', which ensures that, for the most part, only those migrants in good health migrate to Australia.Inequalities in health status by birthplace, and changes in health advantage among migrants after arrival in Australia, provide insight into the effect of lifestyle-related health risk factors on health outcomes. They might also guide health professionals in targeting education, screening and other health interventions.