Australians are living longer, but with more chronic disease

Life expectancy rates in Australia are continuing to rise but almost half of us are living with a chronic health condition.

That’s according to the latest report on the nation’s health, issued every two years by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

Key findings:

• Almost half of Australians have one or more chronic health conditions
• Coronary heart disease and dementia are the leading causes of death
• Two in three Australian adults are overweight or obese
• In 2020, an average of nine people died every day by suicide
• 1 in 6 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a partner
• COVID deaths were nearly three times as high for those in the lowest socioeconomic areas, and 2.5 times as high for people born overseas
• $202.5 billion was spent on health in 2019-20, about $7,900 per person

AIHW: Australia’s Health 2022

The report found children born in 2020 can expect to live to 83 years old, on average — more than 25 years longer than those born at the beginning of the last century.

But with a population living longer, Australia is experiencing higher rates of chronic and aged-related conditions, such as dementia, AIHW deputy CEO Matthew James said.

The report also looked at the impact of COVID-19, and found that although Australia fared relatively well during the first two years of the pandemic, the country’s rate of “excess mortality” — or deaths above the historical average — jumped substantially in 2022.

“There was a marked change in January and February 2022, with 3,105 more [excess] deaths than expected in those two months alone,” Mr James said.

While people who catch COVID-19 now are less likely to become severely unwell than at the start of the pandemic, the record number of infections in 2022 has led to a significant increase in hospitalisations and deaths.

To date, more than 10,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Australia, and more than 8 million infections have been recorded.

“Millions of Australians who contracted COVID-19 have experienced the direct impacts through acute illness, with some facing longer term impacts, such as long COVID,” Mr James said.

“In 2022, no health issue stands above, or has had as wide-reaching impacts on our population and health system, with these effects to be felt for many years to come.”

Smoking rates have fallen to a record low

According to the report, 47 per cent of Australians — or 11.6 million people — live with at least one chronic health condition, such as arthritis, diabetes or heart disease.

Chronic conditions are the nation’s leading cause of illness, disability and death.

While the causes of chronic illness are complex, the report found that over one third of Australia’s “disease burden” is due to preventable risk factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.

The latest data shows:

• two in three adults are overweight or obese;
• three in 10 adults do not get enough physical activity;
• and less than one in 10 adults consume the recommended amount of vegetables.

Although smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death, smoking rates have fallen to a record low of just 11 per cent.

The people behind the numbers

COVID cases and deaths barely rate a mention as people move on with their lives — but for the loved ones of more than 10,000 Australians who have died, life will never be the same.

Harmful levels of alcohol consumption were also identified as a “major health issue”; however, the rate of “single occasion risky drinking” has fallen, and the rate of people abstaining from drinking has increased.

The report also found there have also been improvements in the area of coronary heart disease. Despite it being one of the leading causes of death, the rate of acute coronary events has fallen by 57 per cent in the past two decades.

Five-year cancer survival rates have also increased, from 52 per cent in 1993 to 70 per cent in 2018.

However, delays in screening and early detection services during the pandemic may lead to more advanced cancers being diagnosed at a later date — but it’s too early to tell.

Mental health and the pandemic 

While chronic diseases feature prominently among people aged 45 and over, external causes like accidents and suicide are the leading causes of death among young Australians.

In 2020, an average of nine people died by suicide every day, the report found.

More than half of all deaths by suicide were among people aged 30-59, and males were three to four times as likely as females to take their own life.

If you or anyone you know needs help:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or its COVID-19 support service 1800 512 348
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• ReachOut at au.reachout.com
• Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774
• Brother to Brother on 1800 435 799

Previous research has estimated that one in two Australian adults have experienced a mental health disorder during their lifetime.

According to the report, research tracking the mental health of Australians during the pandemic found average levels of psychological distress were higher in 2020, 2021 and early 2022, especially in younger people.

There was also an increase in self-harm and suicidal ideation presentations to emergency departments, according to some state data.

However, despite initial concerns, COVID-19 and its associated impacts were not linked to a rise in the national suicide rate.

“Despite a rise in the use of mental health services and an increase in psychological distress, COVID-19 has not been associated with a rise in suspected deaths by suicide,” Mr James said.

Health outcomes not equal

Unsurprisingly, the report found not all population groups experience health equally, and COVID-19 was no exception to this.

Deaths from COVID-19 (up until April 30 2022) were nearly three times as high for those living in the lowest socio-economic areas, and 2.5 times as high for people born overseas.

Additionally, the rate of severe disease from COVID-19 was seven times higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with the Australian population overall.

Generally, the higher a person’s socio-economic position is, the better their health.

The report found if all Australians had experienced the same level of diseaseas people living in the highest socio-economic areas in 2018, the total disease burden could have been reduced by one-fifth.

Among Indigenous Australians, the median age of death increased over the past decade, however life expectancy rates remain well below those of non-Indigenous people.

People with disabilities also tend to report poorer general health and higher levels of psychological distress, and people living in remote and very remote areas generally have poorer access to health services.