Dementia is the leading cause of death for Canberrans – The Canberra Times

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Canberrans are more likely to die from dementia than any other cause, as experts warn that could increase further in coming years. Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that of the 2033 deaths recorded in the ACT during 2019, 201 were caused by dementia, or nearly 10 per cent. Women were more likely to die from dementia-related illnesses than men in the ACT, with the female death rate in Canberra last year almost double that for males. Men in the ACT were more likely to die from heart disease. The ABS data showed the second most common cause of death overall in the national capital was heart disease, followed by gastrointestinal cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer. The number of deaths attributed to dementia in the past decade in Canberra has almost doubled. The figures showed there were 108 dementia deaths in 2010, which then hit a peak of 206 deaths in 2018. Executive director of advocacy and research at Dementia Australia Kaele Stokes said with an ageing population, that trend was set to continue. "The most significant risk factor is ageing," she said. "Although it is not a natural part of ageing, there is higher risk of dementia developing when you're over 65, and that risk factor continues to increase at 75 and from 85 onwards." Of the more than 169,000 deaths recorded in Australia, heart disease accounted for 10.8 per cent of them. However, among women, dementia was the most likely cause of death. Ms Stokes said while dementia was more common among women, case numbers were rising among men. "If the trends remain consistent, dementia will be the leading cause of death within five years for all people nationally," she said. "A lot of the risk factors that underpin dementia are the same for other chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease." The top five leading causes of death nationally, including dementia, cerebrovascular disease, trachea cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, accounted for one-third of all deaths. Despite it being one of the leading causes of death nationally, heart disease deaths have declined 16 per cent from levels seen in 2010. In the same time period, however, dementia and Alzheimer's-related deaths have increased by 66 per cent. General manager of heart health and research at the Heart Foundation, Bill Stavreski, said while there had been a fall in heart disease deaths during the past 50 years, last year's numbers did not follow that trend. "We saw a similar increase nationally, with the ABS reporting 18,244 coronary heart disease deaths in 2019, up from 17,533 in 2018," he said. "This is an average of 50 deaths every day, or one every 29 minutes. "While the reason for the increase is unclear at this stage, it's a trend we would not want to see continue in Canberra, or anywhere else." The most common cause of deaths for those aged 15 to 44 in the ACT was suicide. Data from the ABS showed based on average life expectancy, the ACT has more than 12,000 years of potential life lost in 2019, based on the demographics of the more than 2000 deaths.

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October 29 2020 - 12:00PM

Canberrans are more likely to die from dementia than any other cause, as experts warn that could increase further in coming years.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that of the 2033 deaths recorded in the ACT during 2019, 201 were caused by dementia, or nearly 10 per cent.

Women were more likely to die from dementia-related illnesses than men in the ACT, with the female death rate in Canberra last year almost double that for males.

Men in the ACT were more likely to die from heart disease.

The ABS data showed the second most common cause of death overall in the national capital was heart disease, followed by gastrointestinal cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer.

The number of deaths attributed to dementia in the past decade in Canberra has almost doubled.

The figures showed there were 108 dementia deaths in 2010, which then hit a peak of 206 deaths in 2018.

Executive director of advocacy and research at Dementia Australia Kaele Stokes said with an ageing population, that trend was set to continue.

"The most significant risk factor is ageing," she said.

"Although it is not a natural part of ageing, there is higher risk of dementia developing when you're over 65, and that risk factor continues to increase at 75 and from 85 onwards."

Of the more than 169,000 deaths recorded in Australia, heart disease accounted for 10.8 per cent of them.

However, among women, dementia was the most likely cause of death.

Ms Stokes said while dementia was more common among women, case numbers were rising among men.

"If the trends remain consistent, dementia will be the leading cause of death within five years for all people nationally," she said.

"A lot of the risk factors that underpin dementia are the same for other chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease."

The top five leading causes of death nationally, including dementia, cerebrovascular disease, trachea cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, accounted for one-third of all deaths.

Despite it being one of the leading causes of death nationally, heart disease deaths have declined 16 per cent from levels seen in 2010.

In the same time period, however, dementia and Alzheimer's-related deaths have increased by 66 per cent.

Dementia is the ACT's leading cause of death. Picture: Shutterstock

General manager of heart health and research at the Heart Foundation, Bill Stavreski, said while there had been a fall in heart disease deaths during the past 50 years, last year's numbers did not follow that trend.

"We saw a similar increase nationally, with the ABS reporting 18,244 coronary heart disease deaths in 2019, up from 17,533 in 2018," he said.

"This is an average of 50 deaths every day, or one every 29 minutes.

"While the reason for the increase is unclear at this stage, it's a trend we would not want to see continue in Canberra, or anywhere else."

The most common cause of deaths for those aged 15 to 44 in the ACT was suicide.

Data from the ABS showed based on average life expectancy, the ACT has more than 12,000 years of potential life lost in 2019, based on the demographics of the more than 2000 deaths.

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Dementia is the leading cause of death for Canberrans - The Canberra Times