Australian Burden of Disease Study

The AIHW as published Australian burden of disease study: impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2011 which compares the impact of nearly 200 diseases and injuries on Australians in terms of living with illness (non-fatal burden) and premature death (fatal burden). 

Most of the burden of disease in 2011 came from chronic diseases, with the five disease groups causing the most burden being cancer, cardiovascular diseases, mental and substance use disorders, musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Since this analysis was last run in 2003, there has been a 15% reduction overall in fatal burden and a 3.8% reduction in non-fatal burden.

At least 31% of the burden of disease in 2011 was preventable, being due to risk factors such as tobacco use, high body mass, alcohol use, physical inactivity and high blood pressure. There were large inequalities found across socioeconomic groups and remote areas.