Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations University of Queenlsand Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

 
 


Chronic Disease

The ALSWH can report on the prevalence and incidence of a range of chronic diseases and associated risk factors. In all three cohorts of ALSWH women, overweight and obesity were significantly associated with increased prevalence and incidence rates of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and arthritis.(1) The impact of education and other aspects of socioeconomic status on women’s health is demonstrated by the association between lower levels of education and greater risk of chronic disease in later life. This effect was seen most strongly among women in the Mid-aged cohort for whom less education was associated with higher prevalence of hypertension (at Survey 1) and arthritis, and with prevalence and incidence of diabetes and osteoporosis.

The longitudinal data from the study provide an understanding of how these conditions affect women’s quality of life and independence as the women age. In addition, the impact of health care and other activities to reduce the burden of these conditions can be evaluated.(2)

 

Prevalence of self-reported diabetes, by age cohort for ALSWH women, 1996 to 2006.

 

References
1. ALSWH. (2006) Trends in women’s health: results from the ALSWH – priority conditions, risk factors and health behaviours. Report to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, October 2006.
2. Young AF, Lowe JM, Byles JE, Patterson AJ. (2005) Trends in health service use for women in Australia with diabetes. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 29: 422-428.

For further information on chronic conditions, see our other publications:

Reports

  • ALSWH. Trends in women’s health: Results from the ALSWH – priority conditions, risk factors and health behaviours. Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, University of Newcastle & University of Queensland, October 2006.
  • Dobson A & the ALSWH team. Chronic Disease and Health Services in Australia. Summary report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, University of Newcastle & University of Queensland. August 2003.
  • Dobson A, Grove N, Ford J, Russell A, Lee C. Health services and chronic conditions: Selected findings of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, University of Newcastle & University of Queensland. June 2003.


Papers

  • Guillemin M. Understanding illness: Using drawings as research method. Qualitative Health Research, 2004; 14(2): 272-289.
  • Guillemin M. Embodying heart disease through drawings. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal For The Social Study Of Health, Illness And Medicine, 2004; 8(2): 223-239.
  • Guillemin M. Heart disease and mid-age women: Focusing on gender and age. Health Sociology Review, 2004; 13(1): 7-13.
  • Byles JE. How do the psychosocial consequences of ageing affect asthma management? Medical Journal of Australia, 2005; 183(1): S30-S32.
  • Young A, Lowe J, Byles J & Patterson A. Trends in health service use for women in Australia with diabetes. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2005; 295: 422-428.
  • Strodl E & Kenardy J. Psychosocial and non-psychosocial risk factors for the new diagnosis of diabetes in elderly women. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 2006; 74(1): 57-65.




 
Link to Project Aims page Link to Project Progress page Link to Project Methods page Link to Project Progress page 		 


 

Last updated: 25 July 2007 by Cath Chojenta © Copyright