Half of all Australians are battling chronic diseases such as athsma, cancer and diabetes

Data shows ailments such as athsma, cancer and diabetes are taking their toll, and one-fifth of Australians are struggling with at least two chronic diseases.

Half of Australians battling chronic disease

A fifth of Australians are affected by multiple chronic diseases, data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows.

The data covers eight chronic diseases: arthritis, asthma, back problems, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health conditions.

About half of all Australians are battling a chronic disease, while one in five have at least two, the data shows.

Ageing is a factor that has a strong association with “comorbidity”; that is, when two or more diseases occur at the same time. Nearly 40 per cent of Australians aged 45 and over have two or more of the eight chronic diseases.

Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases suffered by half of all Australians. Picture: Shutterstock

Arthritis and cardiovascular disease occurred together most frequently, in 16 per cent of the population, followed by arthritis and back problems (10 per cent) and back problems and cardiovascular disease (eight per cent).

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“Sometimes these diseases occur together simply by chance, but often it’s because there are some associations between them, such as shared risk factors,” AIHW spokesman Louise York said in a statement.

“Older people are more vulnerable to developing many diseases, and Australians’ increasing life expectancy means a greater chance for multiple conditions to arise.”

Among those aged 0-44, mental health conditions and back problems were the most common, followed by mental health and asthma, and back problems and asthma.

CHRONIC DISEASES IN AUSTRALIA

— Cardiovascular disease affected 22 per cent of adults in 2011-12.

— Cancer survival rates have gradually increased, while the risk of being diagnosed with the disease before their 85th birthday is one in two for males and one in three for females.

— One in 19 had diabetes in 2011-12, including some who are unaware they had the condition.

— One in four reported having arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in 2011-12, with the most prevalent including back problems and osteoarthritis.

— Mental health problems are highly prevalent, including in children with 14 per cent of those aged 4-17 in 2013-14 having a disorder in the previous 12 months.

Originally published as Half of all Australians are battling chronic diseases such as athsma, cancer and diabetes