The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released a report into the health of the country’s male population, finding notable discrepancies in health based on geographical location.

 

The health of Australia’s males: a focus on five population groups report was released by Minister for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon as part of Men’s Health Week.

 

The report examines the health of Australian men in different population groups, characterised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, remoteness, socioeconomic disadvantage, region of birth and age.

 

‘It shows that these factors can affect health for both better and worse,’ said AIHW CEO and Director David Kalisch.  

 

‘For example, the life expectancy among Indigenous males is 67 years—11.5 years less than their non-Indigenous counterparts.’

 

The report explored the different factors that contribute to porter health rates in different population areas, including lung cancer, diabetes and kidney disease.

 

Males in remote areas also generally have shorter life expectancy and poorer self-assessed health status. As remoteness increases, so too do several health-related factors, including rates of obesity, tobacco smoking and risky alcohol consumption. Males in remote areas also have more new cases of lung cancer, hospitalisations for Type 2 diabetes, and deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and suicide.

 

Rates of obesity and tobacco smoking among men also increase with socioeconomic disadvantage, as do new cases of lung cancer, hospitalisations for Type 2 diabetes and deaths from coronary heart disease, lung cancer, coronary obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and suicide.

 

In contrast, the report shows that some population groups enjoy better health in some areas.

 

Males born overseas have fewer risk factors and lower overall mortality and hospitalisations compared with males born in Australia, and older males (aged 65 and over) are living longer than ever before, and have fewer risk factors such as overweight/obesity and tobacco smoking than younger males.

 

The full report can be found here

http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737421980&libID=10737421980