Threat looms over the good health of Queenslanders

The key findings of the report:

• Life expectancy has increased in the past 33 years to 82.9 years for women and 77.8 years for men.

• Life expectancy rates for Indigenous men and women remain a concern at approximately 22.5 years younger for men and 24.6 years for women than rest of population.

• Higher death rates among the Indigenous population for heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia and injury.

• More babies are being born to an ageing population.

• 50 per cent of all deaths of Queenslanders are potentially avoidable.

• Chronic disease is responsible for 87.6 % of Queensland’s total burden of disease, yet many of these conditions are preventable.

• Less than half the adult population exercise sufficiently to achieve a health benefit. Levels of inactivity in Queensland are higher than national levels.

• An epidemic of overweight and obese adults and children. Approximately 50 per cent of Queensland adults are overweight and a quarter of all children.

• Queensland has the third highest proportion of daily smokers of all states and territories with 22 per cent of males and 18 per cent of females smoking daily. About 12 per cent of teenagers smoke daily.

• About 12 per cent of males and 10 per cent of females drink potentially harmful amounts of alcohol.

• Our vegetable consumption is still below recommended rates but education is helping to increase fruit and vegetable intake.

• Diabetes is increasing with about 50 new cases per day.

• Queensland has the highest rate of melanoma in the world – yet more than half the population think ‘tanning’ is attractive.

• Major reduction in deaths relating to burns, scalds and transport injuries

• Cancer survival rates are improving and among the world’s best.

• Rates of sexually transmissible infections including Chlamydia and gonorrheae have increased – however many communicable diseases have decreased.

• Anxiety and depression is a concern with 349,000 sufferers estimated in 2003.

• Asthma is still prevalent in Queensland. In 2003, about 260,000 people living with asthma and approximately 15,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

THE AVERAGE QUEENSLAND FEMALE:

• Her life expectancy is 82.9 years. However, if she is Indigenous her life expectancy is lower at approximately 64 years.
• She is most likely overweight or obese. More than 40% of Queensland women are overweight or obese.
• If she is Indigenous, aged 15 and older, she is more likely to be overweight.
• Her physical activity has declined over the years and she is probably not doing enough exercise to make a difference to her health.
• She generally eats the recommended two serves of fruit but isn’t so good with vegetables– only 15% of women eat the recommended five serves of vegetables.
• If she doesn’t watch her eating habits and be more active she is a strong candidate for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and even depression.
• If she is pregnant she is far safer during childbirth than ever before. However, maternal deaths rates among Indigenous women are around three times higher.
• If she is a teenager she may be among the 12 % who smoke daily. Smoking is a major issue in Queensland with 18% of Queensland females aged 14 and older currently smoking daily, compared to 16 % nationally.
• 10% of females indulge in risky drinking behaviour. If she is a teenager, she may be one of the 16 % who drink risky amounts.
• Chances are she thinks ‘tanning’ is attractive despite the incredibly high risk of melanoma
• She could be one of the 17 % women who feel distressed, which could lead to mental health problems if help is not obtained.
• If she is poor or has little education she is much more likely to have health problems and die younger. This is the same for men
• The leading causes of death for women are: cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease (specific conditions include, heart disease, stroke and breast cancer).

THE AVERAGE QUEENSLAND MALE:

• His life expectancy has increased to 77.8 years but 59.4 years if he is Indigenous.
• He also is likely to be one of the 58% of men who are overweight or obese. If he is Indigenous, he is more likely to be overweight or obese.
• He does not like his vegetables even if it decreases the risk of some types of cancer. Only about 9 % of men eat the recommended intake of vegetables. He is a little better at eating fruit.
• Vegetable consumption is more of a concern among young men aged 18 to 29.
• He could be a bronzed Queenslander and among the 59% who believe tanning makes you look healthier; even though melanoma is the 4^th highest cause of death from cancer in males.
• He is not as active as he thinks but is more likely to exercise than a woman. However, deaths related to inadequate physical activity are higher in men than women.
• He is also unlikely to seek or receive treatment for high blood pressure – 60% of males go untreated.
• He doesn’t mind his alcohol and sometimes factors in the 12% of men aged 14 years and older who consume a harmful amount of alcohol.
• He is much more likely to die from heart disease than females, although his chances of getting the disease or dying from it have halved in the last 20 years. Heart disease is the biggest killer of men.
• Fortunately death rates are falling for prostate cancer as more men are being diagnosed and managed earlier. Prostate cancer is the 2^nd ranked cause of death in males.
• He could well be a smoker, as 22 % of males 14 years and older smoke, 16% more than in Australia. For men cancer death rates are higher than women with lung cancer being the major cause of cancer deaths in men.
• The leading causes of death for men are: cancer, cardiovascular disease and injury (specific conditions include heart disease, lung cancer and suicide).

MEDIA: