Cardiovascular Disease: Mortality, Morbidity and Risk Factors Among Residents of the Illawarra Health Area

This issue of The Illawarra Population Health Profiler focuses on cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death, and second commonest cause of hospitalisation among both males and females in the Illawarra Health Area. Coronary heart disease (causing angina and acute myocardial infarction) and stroke are the major forms of CVD causing death and illness. The report provides information across the spectrum from risk factors through to the burden of disease, measured by excess hospital separations and mortality. The focus is on coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Data are reported at the Illawarra Health Area, and each of its Local Government Areas (LGAs). The relative impact of the condition in the population is compared to the NSW average.