Heart disease death rates higher in N.Z.

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 8

Heart disease death rates higher in N.Z.

Death rates from heart disease in New Zealand are now higher than in Australia, a recent study has shown.

In 1968, death rates from heart disease were higher in Australia than New Zealand but, by 1983, the situation had reversed, said Dr Robert Beaglehole, who is Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Auckland Clinical School of Medicine.

The study was published in the latest “New Zealand Medical Journal.”

Over the period from 1968 to 1983, death rates declined in both countries, but at a significantly greater rate in Australia, he said.

Life expectancy had increased more rapidly for

Australian middle-aged men and women.

The study did not give reasons for the change in rates for the two countries.

Both nations required comprehensive and complementary studies which monitored changes in health practices such as diet smoking and exercise.

“At present the health data systems in both countries leave much to be desired since they do not How easy insights into health processes at a national level,” he said.

“A national health information system designed to answer specific questions related to health and disease status is a matter for urgent consideration and as such

should receive adequate funding as an integral part of the health budget.”

Professor Beaglehole said it was clear that New Zealand was falling behind Australia. There, the Federal Department iof Health had recently been restructured to achieve a more streamlined approach to the promotion of health. In New. Zealand k .no national goals had been adopted, although,-;, the National Heart Foundation had published a plan for the prevention of coronary heart disease. “There is /an urgent need for New Zealand to develop and implement a national plan for the pre-I vention of cardiovascular diseases and the .‘promotion of health ingeneral,” he said. 1