Death rates in disadvantaged Hunter suburbs like Mayfield soar above the national average

In suburbs such as Mayfield and Waratah, the age-standardised rate of diabetes-related deaths per 100,000 people was 64.1, compared to the national average of 30.2.

In other pockets of the Hunter, the rate was as low as 20.1 in Warners Bay and Boolaroo; 20.1 in Merewether, The Junction and Newcastle / Cooks Hill; 22.5 in Hamilton and 24.8 in the Broadmeadow area.

The statistics, released on Tuesday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, also reveal how the rate of disease, hospitalisation and death relate to characteristics such as unemployment rates and education levels. The highest (age-adjusted) death rates were in regional or remote areas with higher proportions of Indigenous Australians and people living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

Overall, the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network region had a significantly higher rate of hospitalisation for Type 2 diabetes. Nationally the rates ranged from 2400 to 7300 per 100,000 people, sitting at 5257 in the Hunter New England and Central Coast region. The region is also home to a higher than average rate of chronic kidney disease, and self-reported heart, stroke and vascular disease.

The statistics show massive discrepancies between health outcomes via postcode, with the highest rate of chronic kidney disease hospitalisation rate by population health area from around Australia, for example, at 23 times the national average.

The data shows that on an average day between 2013 and 2017, 24 Australians died with type 2 diabetes listed as the underlying and/or associated cause of death.

The report explores the relationships between 10 major chronic diseases, being: arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, mental health conditions and osteoporosis. It found that one in two Australian had one or more of the 10 chronic conditions in 2017-18, and one in five had two or more.

Almost half of adults who suffer from more than one chronic disease live in the two lowest two socioeconomic areas, and are less likely to be working (67 per cent) than those with no chronic conditions (83 per cent).

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: