Cardiovascular Disease in Australia

Running Head: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA
Public Health
Name
Institution Affiliate

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA 2
Public health and Economics
Public Health issue
Cardiovascular disease is an ailment that causes blood vessels to become narrowed or
blocked leading to the reduction of blood supply to the heart. This makes the heart vulnerable to
heart attacks, chest pains or strokes. (Crea, Lanza, & Camici, 2014). Cardiovascular disease is
the major cause of deaths in Australia. The disease is also known as Cardiac disease or Coronary
heart disease. Between the year 2007-2008, it was estimated 3.4 million Australians were
diagnosed with this illness. In the following year (2009) up to 46,106 people in Australia died
because of the disease. During the year 2015-2016 a study was carried out, it showed that over
1.1 million people in Australia suffered from this disease. In the same year period, 1 out of 3
deaths in the country was caused by Cardiovascular disease. The number of people with the
disease in the country keeps on rising year by year. In 2014- 2015, it is now estimated that up to
4.2 million Australian natives above the age of 18 years suffer from the ailment. This comprised
of conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and hypertension. The
Indigenous people in Australia are more vulnerable to the disease than non-indigenous people. In
a study conducted in 2012-2013, it showed that females were the most affected by the disease
than male (59% to the female and 41% to the male). (Welfare, 2018)
Roles of Stakeholders in Both the Health System and Other Sectors in Addressing the
Issue.
Primary care organizations formed in Australia have helped the people living with
Cardiovascular disease and also, they have tried to reduce the increase of the ailment. An
organization called the National Heart Foundation was created and led to the creation of the

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA 3
online Heartwatch survey as a way to monitor the development of cardiovascular disease in
Australia. The study aided the Australian Adults to grasp the dangers of heart disease and the
risk factors associated with it. It also helped them understand the preferred health behaviors and
existing health conditions to avoid the disease. (Graham, McCoy, & Schultz, 2015).
The education sector in Australia has educated the people about the dangers of smoking
and drinking as a mean to reduce the rate of growth of Cardiovascular disease among other
health issues in the country. Rural training initiatives and increasing engagement with
universities have been encouraged by the Australian government to help create more awareness
of the health issue the country faces. This was heavily influenced by the Australian Health
Survey (AHS) in a study dumbed the nationally representative survey that was conducted in
2011- 2012 to evaluate the cardiovascular health conditions in Australian adults. The Australian
government allocated 7.6 billion dollars to fund and improve the health care of the country in
order for it to be able to have better means to battle the disease. (Barrett, Bolan, Dawson,
Ortmann, & Reis, 2016)
Australia`s industrial sector has led to the development of hospitals, nursing, and
residential care facilities, social assistance, ambulatory health care services, and outpatient
procedures among others. Development of organizations such the “GP-Super clinics” which has
helped in developing teamwork in primary healthcare services. This integration between clinical,
community-based and public health programs have aided in fighting cardiovascular disease.
Blood tests, X-rays, or rehabilitation treatment and other health sectors have improved their
efficiency in services rendered to the patients. Nurses have gained more roles influencing the
availability of qualified staff to handle the disease. The sum of people living with cardiovascular
disease is growing due to factors including population aging and upgraded treatments that have