78.6 per cent of all Australians had a long-term health condition in 2020-21, with almost half (46.6 per cent) reporting at least one selected chronic condition, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
ABS Director of Health Statistics, Robert Long, said the first release of the National Health Survey 2020-21 offered insights into health conditions and health risks in 2020-21 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mental and behavioural conditions (20.1 per cent), back problems (15.7 per cent) and arthritis (12.5 per cent) were the most commonly reported chronic conditions in 2020-21,” Mr Long said.
For the first time, the survey also provided insights on e-cigarette use.
“New data on e-cigarette use showed that more than one in five (21.7 per cent) people aged between 18 to 24 years have tried a vaping device. Most people in this age group had never smoked tobacco (83.3 per cent).”
The National Health Survey 2020-21 indicated one in four (25.8 per cent) adults aged 18 years and over exceeded the Australian alcohol consumption guidelines, with men more likely than women to have exceeded the limits in the guidelines (33.6 per cent compared to 18.5 per cent). Over a quarter (26.8 per cent) of men were consuming more than 10 standard drinks a week.
The survey also revealed that more than half (56.6 per cent) of Australians over the age of 15 rated their health as excellent or very good. Just over one in four (27.2 per cent) met the physical activity guidelines in 2020-21, while four in ten (41.8 per cent) people aged 65 years and over met the guidelines.
