Malignant neoplasms (cancers) and ischaemic heart disease were the leading causes of death for Tasmanians in 2003, accounting for 1,080 and 748 deaths respectively.
Malignant neoplasms were responsible for 30.2% of male deaths and 24.1% of female deaths.
Diseases of the circulatory system, which include ischaemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, brought about the deaths of 1,373 persons in 2003, accounting for 34.6% of deaths recorded that year. Some 32.1% of male deaths (652) and 37.3% of female deaths (721) were attributable to these diseases.
Deaths from cerebrovascular diseases (including strokes) were more common for females than males, resulting in 159 female deaths (8.2% of female deaths), compared to 119 male deaths (5.9% of male deaths) in 2003.
Diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 341 deaths in 2003. There were 181 male (8.9% of males) and 160 female (8.3% of females) deaths from diseases of the respiratory system.
There were 69 deaths (1.7% of all deaths) attributed to intentional self-harm (suicide) in Tasmania in 2003. Of these, 54 (78%) were males and 15 (22%) were females. Males aged from 25-44 years accounted for 34.8% of all deaths from intentional self-harm, with 24 deaths.
There were 53 deaths (1.3% of all deaths) from transport accidents in Tasmania in 2003. Of these, 46 (86.8%) were males and 7 (13.2%) were females. Males aged from 25-44 years accounted for 34.0% of all deaths from transport accidents in 2003, with 18 deaths.
There were 158 deaths (4.0% of all deaths) from diabetes mellitus in Tasmania in 2003. Of these, 85 (53.8%) were males and 73 (46.2%) were females. People aged 75 years and over accounted for 70.3% of all deaths from diabetes mellitus, with 111 deaths.
| UNDERLYING CAUSE OF DEATH, Tasmania - 2003 |
|
| | Males | Females | Total |
| | | | |
Cause of death | no. | no. | no. |
|
Mental and behavioural disorders | 37 | 66 | 103 |
Diseases of the nervous system | 58 | 100 | 158 |
Diseases of the respiratory system | 181 | 160 | 341 |
Diseases of the digestive system | 73 | 77 | 150 |
Diseases of the genitourinary system | 38 | 48 | 86 |
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 114 | 98 | 212 |
| - Diabetes mellitus | 85 | 73 | 158 |
Neoplasms | 634 | 487 | 1,121 |
| - Malignant neoplasms | 613 | 467 | 1,080 |
Diseases of the circulatory system | 652 | 721 | 1,373 |
| - Ischaemic heart diseases | 377 | 371 | 748 |
| - Cerebrovascular diseases | 119 | 159 | 278 |
External causes of morbidity and mortality | 154 | 71 | 225 |
| - Transport accidents | 46 | 7 | 53 |
| - Intentional self-harm | 54 | 15 | 69 |
Other causes of death (a) | 89 | 107 | 196 |
Total | 2,030 | 1,935 | 3,965 |
(a) Includes certain infectious and parasitic diseases; diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism; diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue; symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified; diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue; certain conditions originating in the perinatal period; congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities; pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.
Source: Causes of Death, Australia (cat. no. 3303.0).
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