Victorian health report card

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDSep 26 2010

Results from the 2008 Victorian Population Health Survey of more than 34,000 people are out. Broadly the picture is not too pleasing with signs of poor health like weight gain and disease. People are eating less fruit and vegetables, but smoking is down and asthma is less prevalent than it was earlier in the decade.

The survey, conducted in 2008, was only released now because of the time taken to collate and analyze the data, a government spokesman said on Sunday.

On one hand rates of exercise remained steady between 2002 and 2008, but the proportion of people classed as either overweight or obese rose by 3.5 per cent from 2002 to 2008, with 48.6 per cent of adults falling into one of the two categories. 13.6 per cent of men and 6.9 per cent of women admitted drinking at “risky levels” on a weekly basis, which was similar to 2002 rates. Asthma prevalence has dropped by 1.4 per cent to 10.7 per cent. More people are getting their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked, the report found.

Victoria's Surf Coast, stretching from Lorne to Torquay and inland past Winchelsea showed the best rates of fruit and vegetable consumption and most people got their eyes checked and bowel cancer tests performed, the report said. Smokers here were also below the state average and its residents exercise more often than the average Victorian. According to Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Libby Coker, this lifestyle attracted many health-conscious residents, but the local council also worked hard to create a healthier community. “Some people will drop their level of salary to move here for a healthier lifestyle, to spend more time with their family and get more out of life…But we are the fastest growing municipality outside the metropolitan area, so as a council we need to make sure the infrastructure that helps people live healthy lives keeps up with this growth.”

Queenscliff has also done well on the health report card. Highest percentage of people got enough exercise each day, and the most adults described their health as “excellent”. Percentage of heart disease was lowest but cancer for females at 17 per cent was highest.

Proportion of people who have run out of food in the past 12 months and can not afford to buy more increases by 1 per cent between 2002 and 2008, with females aged between 18-24 having the most trouble.

According to Prof Helen Keleher, head of Monash University's Department of Health Science a healthy community may help people change. “Whilst we know that somewhere like Caroline Springs has got a really lovely environment - they've actually created that - we don't know how that affects people's health,” she said.

Greater Dandenong scored one of the poorest on the report card. It had the highest percentage of people eating no vegetables each day, with the lowest rates of people seeking mental health help and women having pap smears. Prof Keleher explained that communities made up of financially disadvantaged residents with diverse ethnic mixes scored lower in health and wellbeing questions. “The last figures I saw on Dandenong showed their population was born in 156 different countries -- that is amazing…Compared with Queenscliff or Torquay, it's easy to deliver prevention service through community health and GPs to a pretty much monocultural, Anglo population,” she said. More studies to assess the connection was needed she said.

Country residents have scored much higher rates of health and wellbeing than city dwellers the report adds. Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews said survey results were released to local councils during the week to help develop public health and lifestyle programs. “We want Victorians eating better and exercising more so we will use this information to develop new public health programs to prevent chronic disease and support a healthy, active society,” Mr Andrews said. The Victorian Population Health Survey will be undertaken at a local government level every three years, with the next survey beginning in early 2011.