Open AccessThe health burden of preventable disease in Australia: a systematic review
Author(s) -
Crosland Paul,
Ananthapavan Jaithri,
Davison Jacqueline,
Lambert Michael,
Carter Rob
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.12882
Subject(s) - medicine , burden of disease , environmental health , systematic review , disease burden , public health , years of potential life lost , disease , disability adjusted life year , gerontology , medline , life expectancy , population , nursing , pathology , political science , law
Abstract Objective : A systematic review was conducted to determine the health burden of preventable disease in Australia. Methods : The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) statement guidelines were followed to identify, screen and describe the protocols used in the systematic review. Results : Eleven studies were included in the review. Data on the health burden associated with lifestyle‐related risk factors were extracted by disease with outcomes reported in attributable number and proportion of deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). Around one‐third of DALYs was attributed to all modifiable risk factors. The range of estimates of DALYs attributable to each prioritised risk factor was: combined dietary risk factors, 7.2% to 9.7%; tobacco, 7.9% to 9.0%; alcohol, 5.1% to 12.2%; high body mass, 5.5% to 8.3%; and physical inactivity, 1.2% to 5.5%. Conclusions : Although the methods used to estimate preventable health burden varied greatly between studies, all found that a substantial amount of death and disability was attributable to lifestyle‐related risk factors. Implications for public health : There is a large health burden in Australia caused by modifiable risk factors and further action is warranted to address this burden.