Australian health report for 2016 shows cancer deaths now our leading killer

THE number of Australians dying from different cancers is for the first time higher than cardiovascular disease deaths, a national health report card released today reveals.

THE number of Australians dying from cancer has for the first time surpassed the total number of cardiovascular disease deaths, a national health report card released today reveals.

According to the latest snapshot of the nation’s health released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of cancer deaths combined (44,100) is higher than the total number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease (43,600), which includes coronary disease, stroke and health failure.

However, coronary heart disease continues to be the leading specific cause of death in Australia (19,800).

The two-yearly report card, titled Australia’s Health 2016, reveals most Australians consider themselves to be in good health.

In 2014-15, 85 per cent of Australians aged 15 and over self-rated their health as “good” or better and more than half (56 per cent) rated their health as “excellent” or “very good”.

While there was good health news in Australia, including a reduction in the overall death rates, cancer deaths and smoking rates, the report highlighted areas of needed improvement.

One of the biggest health concerns facing the nation is chronic disease as Australians continue to put themselves at risk of developing lifestyle-related chronic diseases.

The report also reveals almost 45 per cent of Australians aged 16-to-85 will experience a common mental disorder such as depression or anxiety and one in seven people will have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime.

An estimated 1.2 million Australians had diabetes in 2014-15, most of whom (85 per cent) had type 2 diabetes, which is largely preventable because risk factors that can lead to the disease include insufficient physical activity, obesity and tobacco smoking.

Smoking rates have decreased, with the proportion of people aged 14 and over who reported never smoking rose from 58 per cent in 2010 to 60 per cent in 2013.

In terms of our general health and wellbeing, in 2014-15, almost half of adults aged 18-to-64 were inactive or insufficiently active.

A whopping 93 per cent did not eat the recommended five daily serves of vegetables, half did not eat the recommended two daily serves of fruit and these rates had not improved since the last report.

Even more concerning, 97 per cent of children aged 5-to-14 did not eat the recommended daily serves of veggies and 30 per cent did not consume enough fruit.

People are also getting fatter, with the proportion of overweight or obese adults increasing from 56 per cent to 63 per cent between 1995 and 2014-15, which accounts to an average increase of 4.4kg for both men and women.

According to the report, just under one in five Australians reported having a disability.

AIHW director and chief executive officer Barry Sandison said the report provided new insights and new ways of understanding the health of Australians.

“We are living longer than ever before, death rates continue to fall, and most of us consider

ourselves to be in good health,” he said.

As well as looking at factors influencing individuals’ health, today’s report also examines the

health of particular population groups, and shows considerable disparities.

“For example, while there have been some improvements overall in the health of Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander Australians — including falls in smoking rates and infant mortality — indigenous Australians continue to have a lower life expectancy than non-indigenous Australians, at 69.1 years for males and 73.7 for females, more than 10 years shorter than for non-indigenous Australians,” Mr Sandison said.

Indigenous Australians also continue to have higher rates of many diseases, such as diabetes,

end-stage kidney disease and coronary heart disease.

For people living in rural and remote areas, where accessing services can be more difficult, lower life expectancy and higher rates of disease and injury — particularly road accidents — are of concern.

Mr Sandison said good data was essential to inform debate, policy and help with decision making.

Originally published as Australian health report for 2016 shows cancer deaths now our leading killer