Waitemata district leads the way on health status

New report confirms Waitemata district leads the way on health status in New Zealand

A new report has found residents in the Waitemata district to be among the healthiest in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health report, Mortality and Demographic Data 2010, finds that overall, the Waitemata district has the lowest death rate for its population among all 20 health districts in New Zealand.

In addition to this, of the three leading causes of death in New Zealand – cancer, ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (stroke) – Waitemata has the lowest mortality rates associated with cancer and heart disease nationally, and is one of three District Health Boards with the lowest mortality rates from stroke.

Waitemata DHB CEO Dr Dale Bramley says the findings affirm the DHB’s efforts to improve health outcomes among the more than 550,000 people in its district.

“The results confirm that our district’s population appears to be, on the whole, healthier than their peers in other parts of the country.

“This is consistent with data showing our district’s population to be the longest living in the country, with an average life expectancy of 84 years.”

With the latest report, Ministry officials analysed mortality data across all district health boards in New Zealand to develop age-standardised rates. Age-standardised rates account for differences in population structures, and are used to compare groups with different age structures (for example, males and females, or Maori and non-Maori) as well as data from different years.

Three DHB regions – Waitemata, Capital & Coast and Nelson Marlborough – had age-standardised mortality rates that were significantly lower than the national rate of 391.6 per 100,000 people, with Waitemata district’s rate the lowest, at nearer to 300 per 100,000 people.

“The findings show the effort we have put into improving health outcomes – including access to public healthcare – coupled with our district’s high socio-economic status, is helping to keep our population fit and healthy,” says Dr Bramley.

The latest findings follow the 2011/12 New Zealand Health Survey released in May which showed Waitemata to have the lowest rate of diagnosed diabetes, stroke and medicated high blood pressure, along with:

• A very high number of adults reporting excellent, very good or good health (91.5%) • One of the lowest smoking rates in New Zealand • The second lowest rate of obesity • Good primary healthcare and after hours access • The lowest rates of tooth removal among adults due to decay, abscess, gum disease or Infection

ENDS

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