Modifiable risks in Australia
December 3, 2012
AROUND 70 percent of bowel
cancer cases are linked to modifiable
diet and lifestyle factors, according
to Bowel Cancer Australia (BCA).
The comments come on the back
of the BCA’s Bowel Cancer Atlas
update release, which for the first
time ever, includes lifestyle risk
factors for bowel cancer and many
other common diseases.
Compiled by the Public Health
Information Development Unit at
the University of Adelaide, the Atlas
is based on data from the 2007-8
National Health Survey, ABS
(unpublished) and ABS Estimated
Resident Population June 2007 and
30 June 2008; as well as death data
supplied by ABS for the period
2003-2007.
According to the Atlas, people in
non-metropolitan local government
areas (LGAs) were more likely than
those in capital cities to smoke, drink
heavily, be physically inactive, and
have a BMI in the obese range.
In addition, Type 2 diabetes, which
is now increasingly recognised as
an independent risk factor for bowel
cancer, was also more common in
most non-metropolitan areas.
Looking at the breakdown of data,
the LGAs of Irwin and Narrogin in
WA shared the nation's highest
rates of heavy drinking, whilst in
NSW, the LGA of Brewarrina had
Australia's highest rates of smoking
and type 2 diabetes; Urana, the
highest rate of physical inactivity;
and Junee, the highest rate of obesity.
Meanwhile, Sydney's Ku-ring-gai
had the lowest rate of smoking in
the nation; Peppermint Grove in
WA had the lowest rates of physical
inactivity and obesity; Auburn in
Sydney's west had the lowest rate
of heavy drinking and Hobart had
the lowest rate of type 2
diabetes.
“By adding these risk factors into
our Atlas, we're hoping that people
will have a look at how their
community is faring and start to
think hard about making any
necessary changes,” said Bowel
Cancer Australia Chief Executive,
Julien Wiggins.
“Unfortunately, no-one can
promise that if you do all the right
things, you won't get bowel cancer.
“We can't change other factors
such as our age or genetic make-up.
“As with most cancers, the
reasons why some people get
bowel cancer and others don't is
very complex,” he added.
To view the Atlas, view
www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/atlas.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 03 Dec 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 03 Dec 12
