OBJECTIVE: To examine age and sex differences in the leading causes of prevalent disability in young Australians. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We analysed data from the 2003 Australian Burden of Disease and Injury Study, which estimated the prevalent disability burden attributable to 170 diseases and injuries, for younger adolescents (10-14 years), older adolescents (15-19 years) and young adults (20-24 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The broad categories of disease and injury that are the main contributors to prevalent disability and the 10 leading disease and injury causes of prevalent disability, according to sex and age group. RESULTS: Total prevalent disability rates are lowest in younger adolescents and highest in young adults. Mental disorders are the largest "contributor" to disability in young Australians, and anxiety and depressive disorders are the leading single cause. In young males, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cause similar levels of disability as do anxiety and depression. In young females, eating disorders are the second leading cause of mental disorder disability. Alcohol use disorders and schizophrenia make important contributions to disability in young adult males. Asthma is the most prominent cause of physical disability in all three age groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial changes in both the pattern and level of disability burden across the three age groups that we studied. The increase in total prevalent disability that occurs from early adolescence to young adulthood should focus attention on the delivery of accessible and youth friendly health care as well as the effectiveness of transitions from child health services to adult health services.
OBJECTIVE: To examine age and sex differences in the leading causes of prevalent disability in young Australians. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We analysed data from the 2003 Australian Burden of Disease and Injury Study, which estimated the prevalent disability burden attributable to 170 diseases and injuries, for younger adolescents (10-14 years), older adolescents (15-19 years) and young adults (20-24 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The broad categories of disease and injury that are the main contributors to prevalent disability and the 10 leading disease and injury causes of prevalent disability, according to sex and age group. RESULTS: Total prevalent disability rates are lowest in younger adolescents and highest in young adults. Mental disorders are the largest "contributor" to disability in young Australians, and anxiety and depressive disorders are the leading single cause. In young males, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cause similar levels of disability as do anxiety and depression. In young females, eating disorders are the second leading cause of mental disorder disability. Alcohol use disorders and schizophrenia make important contributions to disability in young adult males. Asthma is the most prominent cause of physical disability in all three age groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial changes in both the pattern and level of disability burden across the three age groups that we studied. The increase in total prevalent disability that occurs from early adolescence to young adulthood should focus attention on the delivery of accessible and youth friendly health care as well as the effectiveness of transitions from child health services to adult health services.
Authors: Allison M Waters; Maria Nazarian; Susan Mineka; Richard E Zinbarg; James W Griffith; Bruce Naliboff; Edward M Ornitz; Michelle G Craske Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2014-02-05 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Lena Sanci; Brenda Grabsch; Patty Chondros; Alan Shiell; Jane Pirkis; Susan Sawyer; Kelsey Hegarty; Elizabeth Patterson; Helen Cahill; Elizabeth Ozer; Janelle Seymour; George Patton Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-06-06 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Louisa Degenhardt; Christina O'Loughlin; Wendy Swift; Helena Romaniuk; John Carlin; Carolyn Coffey; Wayne Hall; George Patton Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2013-08-19 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Louisa Degenhardt; Helena Romaniuk; Carolyn Coffey; Wayne D Hall; Wendy Swift; John B Carlin; Christina O'Loughlin; George C Patton Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-11-16 Impact factor: 3.295