Australian Centre for Monitoring Population Health

Conditions that affect the bones, muscles and joints are known as musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions include long-term (chronic) conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, back problems, gout, and osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone density).

This report is regularly updated with data from a range of sources. There are differences in the source year and frequency of publication. For more information, see notes.

Respiratory conditions affect the airways, including the lungs as well as the passages that transfer air from the mouth and nose into the lungs. They can be long lasting (chronic) or short term (acute) and can cause ill health, disability and death.

This report is regularly updated with data from a range of sources. There are differences in the source year and frequency of publication. For more information, see notes.

Asthma is a common chronic condition that affects the airways (the breathing passage that carries air into our lungs). People with asthma experience episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness and fatigue due to widespread narrowing of the airways.

'Back problems' describes a range of conditions related to the bones, joints, connective tissue, muscles and nerves of the back. These conditions can affect the neck (cervical spine), upper back (thoracic spine) and lower back (lumbar spine) as well as the sacrum and tailbone (coccyx). Back problems are a significant cause of disability and lost productivity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable lung disease characterised by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible. The symptoms of COPD include cough, sputum production, and dyspnoea (difficult or labored breathing).

Most Australians do not meet the Australian Dietary Guidelines and consume diets high in discretionary foods, sugar, salt and fat, yet not enough fruit and vegetables. Dietary risk factors are a leading cause of ill health and contribute to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. This article provides an overview of Australians’ consumption of foods and drinks, and selected nutrients, and the health impacts of dietary risk factors.

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis. It occurs when excess uric acid in the blood leads to deposits of uric acid crystals in one or more joints. These deposits cause inflammation, with the big toe joint being most commonly affected. Gout can also affect other joints in the arms (fingers, wrists, elbows) and legs (toes, ankles, knees).

Chronic kidney disease: Australian facts provides key information for monitoring chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Australian population, focussing on CKD risk factors, treatment and impact. Incidence, prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality are described with additional analysis of priority population groups.

This report is regularly updated with data from a range of sources. There are differences in the source year and frequency of publication. See Data sources and Notes for more information.

This web report presents updated data for the national asthma indicators published in the National Asthma Strategy 2018.

The indicators provide insights on how common asthma is in Australia; asthma related deaths, hospital visits and general practice encounters; medication use, asthma action plans, the impact of asthma on quality of life, and the cost of asthma to the Australian healthcare system.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition characterised by the breakdown of the cartilage that overlies the ends of bones in joints. Osteoarthritis mostly affects the hands, spine and joints such as hips, knees and ankles, and usually gets worse over time.