Health status

Self-rated health

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who rated their health positively as excellent, very good or good. However, there has been a significant increase among males (69.2 per cent to 75.8 per cent) and among persons in the rural health areas (69.0 per cent to 74.0 per cent).

Asthma

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had ever been told by a doctor or hospital they had asthma. However, there has been a significant increase among persons in the fourth quintile of disadvantage (12.9 per cent to 17.2 per cent).

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who have current asthma.

Cardiovascular disease precursors

Between 1997 and 2005, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had their blood pressure measured in the last 2 years.

Between 1997 and 2005, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had ever been told by a doctor or hospital they had high blood pressure (41.1 per cent to 52.9 per cent). The increase was significant among males (37.4 per cent to 47.5 per cent) and females (43.9 per cent to 57.3 per cent), among persons in all quintiles of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.

Between 1997 and 2005, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had their cholesterol measured in the last 2 years (70.0 per cent to 86.3 per cent). The increase was significant among males (72.5 per cent to 87.2 per cent) and females (68.1 per cent to 85.6 per cent), among persons in all quintiles of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.

Between 1997 and 2005, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had ever been told by a doctor or hospital they had high cholesterol (31.7 per cent to 37.0 per cent). The increase was significant among males (27.8 per cent to 33.6 per cent) and females (34.9 per cent to 39.8 per cent), among persons in the second quintile (30.4 per cent to 39.0 per cent) and fourth quintile (28.2 per cent to 36.6 per cent) of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.

Diabetes or high blood glucose

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had ever been told by a doctor or hospital they had diabetes or high blood glucose (12.8 per cent to 18.3 per cent). The increase was significant among males (14.3 per cent to 21.3 per cent) and females (11.5 per cent to 15.9 per cent), among persons in the first or least disadvantaged quintile (9.3 per cent to 16.2 per cent) and second quintile (11.9 per cent to 18.4 per cent) and fourth quintile (11.9 per cent to 19.5 per cent) of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.

Incontinence

Between 2003 and 2006, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had experienced urinary incontinence in the last 4 weeks.

Falls

Between 2003 and 2006, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had a fall in the last 12 months.

Between 2003 and 2006, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had a fall requiring medical treatment in the last 12 months.

Between 2003 and 2006, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had a fall requiring hospitalisation in the last 12 months.

Mental health

Between 1997 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over with high or very high psychological distress according to the K10 measure. However, there has been a significant decrease among persons in the rural health areas (11.3 per cent to 8.6 per cent).

Oral health

Between 2002 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who visited a dental professional in the last 12 months.

Between 1998 and 2007, there has been a significant decrease in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over with all their natural teeth missing (33.3 per cent to 22.0 per cent). The significant decrease was among males (24.2 per cent to 17.4 per cent) and females (40.6 per cent to 25.8 per cent), among persons in all quintiles of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.

Hearing

Between 2004 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who ever had their hearing tested (54.0 per cent to 67.6 per cent). The significant increase was among males (64.8 per cent to 78.1 per cent) and females (45.0 per cent to 58.8 per cent), among persons in all quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.

Vision

Between 2004 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who had their eyesight tested in the last 2 years (83.3 per cent to 86.0 per cent). The significant increase was among males (80.9 per cent to 85.2 per cent), among persons in the third quintile of disadvantage (81.0 per cent to 87.2 per cent), and among persons in the rural health areas (81.4 per cent to 85.5 per cent).

Graphs

Source:	New South Wales Population Health Survey 2007 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Print version:	Although this page can be printed directly from your web browser, a higher quality version is available as a PDF file that can be printed or viewed on screen.
Produced by:	Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on:	1 July 2008