HEALTH STATUS
SUMMARY HEALTH INDICATOR
Results of the 2007-08 National Health Survey (NHS) showed that the majority of Australians consider themselves to be in very good or excellent health. Over half of people aged 15 years and over (56%) considered their overall health to be very good or excellent, and 29% stated that their health was good. In contrast, 15% of people aged 15 years or more said their health was fair or poor. These rates are similar to 2004-05 at 56%, 28% and 16% respectively.
LONG-TERM MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Although most people reported they were in good health or better, 75% of the total population reported that they had one or more current long-term medical conditions.
The most commonly reported long-term conditions were problems with eyesight, 52% of the population, including long and short-sightedness (26% and 23% respectively), arthritis (15%), asthma (10%), hayfever and allergic rhinitis (15%) and hypertensive disease (9%). Other commonly reported conditions were back pain and disc disorders (14%) and deafness (10%).
Children and young adults
The most commonly reported conditions among children and young adults were respiratory conditions (17% of children under 15 years and 28% of persons aged 15-24 years), with asthma being the most prevalent for children aged under 15 years (10%) and hayfever and allergic rhinitis for those aged 15-24 years (17%).
Older people
While respiratory conditions were also common among people aged 65 years and over (29%), other conditions were more prevalent in this age group. Sight conditions, arthritis, hypertension and deafness were the most common long-term conditions among those aged 65 years and over.
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