Government urged to weigh the risks

THE National Stroke Foundation is calling for improved systems for detecting and managing stroke risk after the release of new data indicating one in five Australians is affected by multiple chronic diseases.
Following the release of the statistics, the stroke foundation is calling on the government to save lives and money through early detection of chronic disease risk.
The foundation’s clinical council chairman Dr Bruce Campbell said the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) chronic disease data demonstrated the urgent need for national government action to support routine health checks by GPs to reduce stroke and heart disease through earlier detection of hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease.
“The data shows 20 per cent of Australians are currently suffering from multiple chronic conditions increasing their chance of stroke, which places a significant drag on Australian health care resources with large economic, social and individual costs,” he said.
“Frighteningly, almost 40 per cent of Australians aged 45 and over were found to have multiple chronic conditions and their impact is set to worsen as the population ages.
“The Federal Government must act now to reduce chronic disease and address its impact into the future.”
Dr Campbell said stroke, heart disease, diabetes and kidney diseases shared common risk factors so a simple combined assessment with GPs for the risks would prevent significant disease and thousands of hospital admissions.
“There will be more than 50,000 strokes in Australia and that number is expected to almost double by 2032,” he said.
“We need to take action now before it’s too late.”
To find out more about strokes and the warning signs, visit www.strokefoundation.com.au