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Risk factors and heart disease mortality: A regional perspective
Author(s) -
Alexander Hilary M.,
Balding David J.,
Dobson Annette J.,
Cibberd Robert W.,
Lloyd Deborah M.,
Leeder Stephen R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb113625.x
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , disease , medicine , intensive care medicine , geography , computer science , artificial intelligence
The mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease in the Hunter Region of New South Wales are among the highest in Australia. Within the Region substantial differences occur in death rates from heart disease among the five urban local government areas, the highest being in the coal‐mining district of Cessnock and the lowest in the resort and dormitory area of Port Stephens. A recent survey in the Region of risk factors for heart disease has revealed prevalence patterns for high blood pressure, serum cholesterol levels, smoking and overweight and obesity which largely parallel the pattern of heart disease mortality. This suggests that changes in lifestyle in the communities could reduce the intraregional differences in mortality. In addition, the widespread prevalence of an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise may explain the Region's high death rates from heart disease and suggests that mortality could be reduced by effective preventive measures.