Table 1

Inequality in prevalence of selected chronic diseases1, 2001
Age group (years) and chronic disease
 Rate2
 Rate ratio by quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage of area3




First
 Second
 Third
 Fourth
 Fifth
0–144





Mental and behavioural problems5
 6 596
 1.00
 1.04
 1.10
 1.12
 1.52**
Respiratory system
 21 807
 1.00
 1.07
 1.05
 1.11
 0.99
     Asthma
 13 363
 1.00
 1.10
 1.12
 1.25*
 1.12
15–24





Mental and behavioural problems5
 10 284
 1.00
 1.02
 0.97
 1.08
 1.28
Respiratory system
 33 373
 1.00
 1.04
 1.12
 1.09
 1.00
     Asthma
 16 263
 1.00
 0.82
 1.14
 1.02
 1.00
     Bronchitis/emphysema
 1 701
 1.006
 1.326
 1.666
 1.946
 1.976
Musculoskeletal system7
 19 088
 1.00
 1.11
 1.00
 1.08
 0.94
25–64





Diabetes mellitus
 2 234
 1.00
 1.37
 1.67*
 1.72*
 2.28***
Mental and behavioural problems5
 11 093
 1.00
 1.05
 1.20*
 1.36***
 1.67***
Circulatory system
 17 491
 1.00
 1.04
 0.97
 1.15*
 1.28***
     Hypertensive disease
 9 751
 1.00
 1.12
 1.01
 1.24*
 1.54***
Respiratory system
 32 964
 1.00
 1.00
 0.99
 0.99
 1.01
     Asthma
 10 393
 1.00
 1.10
 0.99
 1.19*
 1.14
     Bronchitis/emphysema
 3 429
 1.00
 0.97
 1.14
 1.55**
 1.70***
Digestive system
 8 074
 1.00
 1.03
 1.07
 1.12
 1.37***
Musculoskeletal system7
 39 840
 1.00
 1.10*
 1.16***
 1.16***
 1.22***
65 & over





Diabetes mellitus
 8 981
 1.00
 1.13
 1.14
 1.52*
 1.56*
Mental and behavioural problems5
 7 222
 1.00
 1.21
 1.62*
 1.67*
 1.56*
Circulatory system
 56 592
 1.00
 1.09
 1.06
 1.10
 1.19*
Respiratory system
 31 442
 1.00
 1.03
 0.87
 0.95
 1.22*
Musculoskeletal system7
 63 669
 1.00
 1.02
 1.06
 1.03
 1.08

1Survey respondents can report more than one disease.

2Rate is the number of persons per 100,000 population reporting the disease.

3The extent of any inequality is shown by the rate ratio, which expresses the ratio of the rate in each quintile to the rate in Quintile 1 (the most advantaged areas, with a rate ratio of 1.00); rate ratios differing significantly from 1.0 are shown with * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001.

4Information about these age groups were collected by proxy, using parental report.

5Information may be based on self-diagnosis, rather than diagnosis by a health practitioner.

6Indicates rate ratio based on estimates with a Relative Standard Error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.

7Includes diseases of the connective tissue.

Source: National Health Survey, ABS 2002

Glover et al. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2004 1:8   doi:10.1186/1743-8462-1-8