The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released its preliminary analysis of  the National Health Survey 2007-08, Social distribution of health risks and health outcomes.

 

The paper explores the association between selected social and health risk factors on Australians' health. It shows that people with higher household incomes and higher education qualifications are more likely to report better health and less likely to report smoking, and people living outside major cities are more likely to report being an unhealthy weight.

 

Females were more likely to report excellent or very good health status than males, and also had a lower prevalence of cancer; heart, stroke and vascular diseases; Type 2 diabetes; smoking; risky alcohol consumption; and unhealthy body weight than males.

 

Age was the most significant predictor of health status. An age gradient was apparent for health status—as age increased the proportion of people reporting excellent or very good health decreased. The prevalence of cancer; heart, stroke and vascular diseases; and Type 2 diabetes also increased with age. The prevalence of unhealthy body weight increased with age to 55–64 years; the proportion of people aged 65 and over having an unhealthy body weight was lower than for people aged 55–64.

 

The paper is available here.