The Burden of Heart Disease in Low Socioeconomic Australians

Running head: THE BURDEN OF HEART DISEASE IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC
AUSTRALIANS
The burden of Heart Disease in low socio-economic Australians
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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