News
29 September, 2024
Heart stopping stats
Coronary heart disease (CHD) contributed to 1 in 5 deaths in 2022, according to a new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), which delves into the leading causes of death among Australians.
The report, What do Australians die from, sheds light on the complexity of determining the cause of death by using all health conditions recorded on death certificates, providing fresh insights into the interplay of multiple diseases.
Michelle Gourley, spokesperson for the AIHW, noted the intricate nature of understanding how Australians die.
“Traditionally, statistics about causes of death are based on the underlying cause, but death certificates include additional information that helps us better understand why a death occurred,” she explained.
This can include secondary conditions and contributing factors like hypertension, diabetes, and even lifestyle factors such as alcohol use.
The report reveals that most deaths involve multiple causes. In fact, four out of five deaths in 2022 had more than one condition listed, and nearly a quarter recorded five or more contributing causes.
Coronary heart disease was the most frequent underlying cause, accounting for 1 in 10 deaths, but when factoring in all related conditions, it played a role in 1 in 5 deaths.
Dementia, hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, and diabetes were also signifi cant contributors. Conditions like hypertension (8 per cent), diabetes (7 per cent), and coronary heart disease (6 per cent) were prominent contributors.
The report also highlights differences in the causes of death across age groups.
For younger Australians (aged 15 to 54), external causes such as suicide, road traffic injuries, and accidental poisoning were the most common.
Among older Australians (aged 55 and over), chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, dementia, and cancer were the leading underlying causes of death, with direct causes often being complications of these illnesses.
