The Burden of Heart Disease in Low Socioeconomic Australians

This paper discusses the burden of heart disease in low-income regions of Australia and the social determinants of health that contribute to it. It also explores government strategies and public health interventions to prevent heart disease in this population.

Running head: THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC
AUSTRALIANS
The burden of Heart Disease in low socio-economic Australians
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
INTRODUCTION:
Social determinants of health refer to the factors, including socio-economic conditions
that influence one’s health status. These factors are mainly responsible for healthcare
disparities among different populations. In 2015 death due to cardiovascular diseases were
estimated to be 17.7 million people (World Health Organization, 2020). Cardiovascular
disease (CVD) arose as the biggest contributor to the burden of global disease, accounting to
14.4% loss of life in 2012. There are various risk factors associated with cardiovascular
diseases, among which economic conditions play an important role in creating healthcare
disparity. Lack of economic productivity and expensive healthcare delivery in the uninsured
population are increasing the burden of non-communicable diseases (Martínez-García et
al.,2018). Australians with low economic condition was between the year 2104-2015 were
likely to suffer from chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease 1.6 times more
than the high-income Australians. The mortality rate of low-income Australians were higher
(3 years more) than high-income Australians within 2009-2011. Therefore income plays a
vital role in determining the health care services they receive.
Consequently, public health intervention to prevent mortality due to heart disease
should include free access to healthcare services and diagnosis. Government programs such
as the National strategic framework for chronic diseases should be implemented
(Heartfoundation.org.au. 2020). The purpose of this paper is to study the social determinants
s of heath associated with heart disease in low-income Australians and interventions proposed
to prevent it.

2THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEART DISEASE FOR LOW SOCIO-
ECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS:
The burden of heart disease in the low socio-economic group of Australia:
Mortality rates in Australia were high in 2017 due to coronary heart disease being the
leading cause of it. It was reported that in every 28 minutes, a person died due to heart
disease in Australia. The prevalence of heart disease was high in 2104-2015, where near
about 3 percent of the Australian population suffered from long-term heart disease. Mortality
and prevalence of coronary heart disease in the low socio-economic group were found to be
higher. The health expenses were higher in the case of heart disease patients and including
74.8 % expenditure paid by the patient along with the cost for prescriptions and out-patient
medical cost. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 14% of the disease burden of Australia
in 2015 (The Heart Foundation. 2020). The prevalence of heart disease for age-standardized
socio-economic groups in 2017-2018 was found to be 8% in men and 5% in women under
low socio-economic conditions (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2020).
The incidence of heart disease varied among different occupational groups. Socio-economic
disadvantage was responsible for the difference in the occurrence of heart diseases such as
heart attack and stroke. It was reported that incidence rates for heart attack were higher in age
standaridsed to 25 and above in both males and females with low-income accounting to 1.21
and1.27 times more than men and women living in high income areas. Incidence rates for
stroke in 2016 were 1.27 and 1.27 times higher, respectively, for men and women in low
socio-economic regions than in high socio-economic regions. The socio-economic
disadvantaged males had the highest mortality rate due to CVD than advantaged socio-
economic regions i.e., 1.33 higher in 2016. There were inequalities in CVD mortality rates
based on level of education. Males within the age of 25-74 years with secondary education or
below had a mortality rate more than twice when compared with higher education males of

3THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
the same age in 2011 and 2012. Education level reflected the socio-economic condition
because the type of occupation was correlated with the level of qualification. Also, the
difference in the female stroke rate was 27 per 100000 population, and the male stroke rate
was 29 per 100000 population amid advantaged and disadvantaged socio-economic areas
(Aihw.gov.au. 2020).
Social determinants of health that lead to the burden of heart disease in low
socio-economic Australians:
The social determinants of health are not only limited to communicable diseases but
also to non-communicable diseases such as chronic diseases of the heart. Smoking is
associated with chronic diseases, and smoking does not always correlate with social
situations but the socio-economic status. It is evident that in recent years lower-income
populations are more prone to smoking than the higher or middle-income population because
the harmful effects of smoking influenced them to avoid its consumption. However, the low
economic population was not much educated about the harmful effects and thus did not
refrain from its use. The most critical factors determined for inequality in health are lower-
income, poor education, occupation, and health disparity, including race and ethnicity
(Cockerham, Hamby & Oates, 2017).
Attaining education is associated with improving the health of the individual and the
family. With high qualification and established career, a person can have secured income and
housing, which will aid him and his family to combat chronic diseases by making appropriate
choices about healthcare (Psaltopoulou et al., 2017). Health status and illness are not equally
spread within the Australian population. There is a gradual decrease in the mortality rate of
females from the year 2009 to 2011 in highest to lowest socio-economic status according to
the social gradient, and in males, the gradient was higher between the low and high economic
areas. This social gradient affects life expectancy gap. Infants born in areas where 10% of the

4THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
population was economically disadvantaged lived up to 83 years compared to 70 % of the
people with low socio economic condition living up to 79 years. The healthcare coverage is
dissimilar in different socio-economic areas. People living in low socio-economic regions do
not have access to private health insurance and depend on government health policies, and
this encourages higher-income people to purchase private health insurance to reduce
inequality (Abs.gov.au. 2020).
INTERVENTON TO PREVENT SOCIAL DETREMINANTS OF HEART
DISEASE:
Public health intervention:
Education and exercise can be helpful in preventing heart disease among a low socio-
economic group of Australia. A study was performed to evaluate the impact of 7 weeks of
education and exercise in cardiac rehabilitation programs to the rural area of Western
Australia having limited access to healthcare. Their quality of life and knowledge on cardiac
disease was evaluated. After which the intervention was applied and a 6 months follow up
resulted in increased physical activity and decreased weight along with higher knowledge on
cardiac diseases was observed intervention group than the non-intervention group (Alston,
Peterson, Jacobs, Allender & Nichols, 2016). A study showed that physical activity was
correlated with better outcomes for CVD. The low socio-economic condition was highlighted
in little physical activity because of the burden of increased responsibilities in the occupation
or inadequate access to healthcare services for exercises. The physical activity proved to be
beneficial for low economic regions because of the cost-effective nature and huge benefits
(Schultz et al., 2018).

5THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
Government strategies to reduce CVD in low economic regions of Australia:
Alongside public health intervention, the government plan for long-term health can
reduce the risk of CVD and avoid hospitalization. To keep a regular check on the chronic
illness in Australia, the government has declared the National strategic Framework. The main
objectives of this plan are to concentrate on preventing disease in Australia, deliver effective
care to support individuals with chronic illness and improve their quality of life, and select
priority populations. Among the target population, people who are economically
disadvantaged are included, and they are provided with secured and proper services. Since
the health services are specifically for the priority population, it is made affordable with high
quality of services. Healthcare delivery should recognize a diverse group of people to
improve the health outcomes of that population and reduce the risk of chronic conditions. To
measure the progress of these interventions, the indicators of socio-economic status should be
kept in check, which includes low income, attainment of education, unemployment,
inadequate nutrient uptake, and physical inactivity (Www1.health.gov.au. 2020).
Moreover, the education and awareness delivery to the people with the risk of CVD
should be implemented for developing a healthy lifestyle among these s[pecific population.
However, the intervention regarding health literacy development should focus on the lack of
health behaviors and also provide health care access that can reduce the negative health
outcomes effectively. Education should be given at all ages, including the children and older
people, on the risk factors of heart disease. Healthcare services should not only focus on
disease prevention and treatment but also in providing education about the risk factors
associated with it (Korda et al., 2016).
CONCLUSION:
It can be concluded from the above discussion on the burden of heart disease in low-
income regions of Australia that socio-economic factors are responsible for the development

6THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
of heart disease and associated risk factors. Low-income groups do not receive insured
healthcare services; therefore, government plans are applied to improve their quality of life.
Healthcare service availability is also dependent on the ability of individuals to afford care.
The paper also discusses the incidence and mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases among
high-income groups and low-income groups. The rate of incidence and mortality is increasing
in recent years among the economically disadvantaged Australians. The social determinants
of health, such as poor education, age, and other risk factors such as smoking, are responsible
for the development of heart disease in this population. Finally, government strategies include
national strategy framework and public intervention that include easy access to healthcare
with effective and quality care and education to prevent the occurrence of heart disease in
economically backward regions of Australia.

7THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AUSTRALIANS
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