3. Factors influencing health status and burden of disease

Question 1

Biological factors

Answer 1

Relates to the body and its systems that impact on health and wellbeing.
e.g body weight, blood pressure, glucose regulation, blood cholesterol, birth weight, genetics

Question 2

Sociocultural factors

Answer 2

Are the social and cultural conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work and age in

e.g unemployment, cultural factors, access to healthcare, early life experiences, socioeconomic status (income+occupation+education), social connections and social exclusion, social isolation, access to healthcare, food security

Question 3

Environmental factors

Answer 3

The physical surroundings in which we live, play and work.

e.g work environment, geographical location, infrastructure, climate and climate change, housing,

Question 4

Hypertension

Answer 4

High blood pressure

Question 5

Neural Tube Defects

Answer 5

condition characterised by damage to the brain and spinal cord during prenatal development

Question 6

Anemia

Answer 6

condition characterised by a lad of healthy red blood cells

Question 7

Smoking -

Differences in population groups:

Answer 7

More common in low SES groups.
More common in males than females.
More common in Indigenous than non-Indigenous people.

Question 8

Smoking -

Burden of Disease:

Answer 8

Smoking is a leading cause of premature death and disability adjusted life years (DALY’s)

Smoke exposure in early life can increase the risk of asthma - a leading cause of (YLD’s)

Question 9

Smoking -

Health status:

Answer 9

Smoking during pregnancy = increased risk of low birth weight = increases infant mortality rates and U5MR

Smoking increases the risk of many cancers = increasing the incidence of cancer which increases mortality rate.

Question 10

Alcohol -

Difference in population groups:

Answer 10

Those living in remote areas are more likely to consume dangerous levels of alcohol compared to those in major cities

Question 11

Alcohol -

Burden of Disease:

Answer 11

Alcohol contains calories high contribute to weight gain and obesity when consumed in excess
increases the incidence of obesity related conditions = (Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes)

Alcohol increases the risk of mental health issues leading to increased risk of suicide and self harm contributing to YLD and YLL.

Question 12

Alcohol -

Health Status:

Answer 12

Alcohol is filtered through the liver and over time, can contribute to liver diseases such as cirrhosis

Increased incidence of liver conditions and premature death, decreasing LE and increases MR

Question 13

High Body Mass -

Difference in population groups:

Answer 13

More common in those living in rural and remote areas.
More common in males than females.
More common from those in low SES groups.
More common in indigenous groups.

Question 14

How is BMI calculated?

Answer 14

BMI = weight kg divided by height m2 squared
A High BMI>25
Obese BMI>30

Question 15

High Body Mass -

Burden of Disease:

Answer 15

Increased risk of mental health issues such as depression. Depression is one of the leading causes of YLD in Australia.

Question 16

High Body Mass -

Health Status:

Answer 16

High BMI puts strain on the heart and increases blood pressure. Increases the risk of heart attack and stroke increasing mortality and morbidity.

Places extra strain on joints, increasing the risk of arthritis, increasing rates of morbidity and YLD due to arthritis.

Question 17

What are some of the effects of alcohol misuse?

Answer 17

Mental health issues = Injury and self harm
Liver disease = cancers
Prenatal/Infant health outcomes - Foetal alcohol syndrome

Question 18

health concerns with underconsumption of fruit + vegetables

Answer 18

neural tube defects,
high BMI,
Various cancers,
Cardiovascular disease,

Question 19

What are free radicals?

Answer 19

molecule formed when oxygen is metabolised.

Free radicals can damage healthy body cells and increase the risk of disease such as cardiovascular disease and cancer

Question 20

Health concerns with underconsumption of dairy

Answer 20

Osteoporosis 
Cardiovascular disease
Colorectal cancers
Type 2 diabetes
Dental caries

Question 21

Health concerns with high intake of salt

Answer 21

hypertensions
heart failure/ attack
stroke
osteoporosis

Question 22

Health concerns with high intake of sugar

Answer 22

high BMI and associated conditions including CVD some cancers and type 2 diabetes

Dental caries and dental diseases

Question 23

Health concerns with low intake of fibre

Answer 23

High BMI
High cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes

Question 24

How does low intake of fibre and iron contribute to burden of disease

Answer 24

Contributes to DALY associated with colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease

Question 25

Health concerns with low intake of iron

Answer 25

anemia