Heart disease death rates drop among older Australians
Death rates from cardiovascular disease have fallen more for seniors than any other age group in Australia since 1987, according to a new report
Improvements in medical care and treatment have contributed to an accelerated reduction in the number of Australians aged 65 and over who die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) each year, an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report reveals.
The report released today, Cardiovascular disease mortality: trends at different ages, showed that declines in stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates between 1987 and 2006 were greatest among those aged 55 to 74 years. These figures were in stark contrast with the report’s findings that the decline in coronary heart disease death rates had actually slowed among younger people aged 35 to 54.
The good news however comes with a flip side for the aged care system, as more seniors successfully fight disease and live longer.
“The ageing of Australia’s population, combined with the observed acceleration of the rate of decline in CHD and stroke death rates among older people, will lead to increased numbers of older Australians in coming years,” the report said.
“The number of older Australians aged 85 years or older is projected to increase more rapidly than other age groups. One consequence of an ageing population and falling cardiovascular death rates is the growing importance of health and health care needs, and the allocation of resources for preventative, medical and care services.
“[The findings have] also demonstrated that the rate of decline has increased among older Australians for both CHD and for stroke. This fact, combined with an ageing population, has important implications for the allocation of health resources.”
While the report yields positive results for seniors, the death rates from CHD and stroke in Australia still remain higher than those in many other developed countries.
Anne Broadbent from the Institute’s Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Kidney Unit said that Australians should not become complacent about CVD in light of these findings.
“Over the last two decades, trends in the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease have varied, with some being favourable and others not so good,” Ms Broadbent said.
“For example, there have been favourable trends with falling smoking rates and blood pressure levels, but little evidence of national change in blood cholesterol levels. There have also been unfavourable trends in physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes prevalence.
“On the other hand, improvements in medical care and treatment have contributed to the declines in death rates from CHD and stroke.”
