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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-06-17 Daily Xml
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FLOREY ADELAIDE MALE AGEING STUDY

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can he advise the house how the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study is helping health professionals understand the challenges involved in improving health outcomes for men?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (15:01): I thank the member for Light for his question. I acknowledge his and the member for Fisher's great interest in the issue of men's health. It is a well-founded interest. Men, sadly, are more likely to die prematurely from a wide range of causes. As I tell my male colleagues here, male life expectancy is five years less than female life expectancy. Men are likely to die at the age of 78, compared to women at 83. Male deaths are greater across all age groups, and the discrepancy begins at infancy.

The leading causes of premature death amongst men are: ischemic heart disease, that is heart attack and angina; suicide; land transport accidents; and lung cancer. The truly alarming extent of health problems amongst men is highlighted by the preliminary results of the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study. Among the study participants, aged 35 to 80, who attended a clinical exam, these are facts that members might like to know: 47 per cent of men in that category had high cholesterol levels, and 14 per cent of those men were unaware of that fact; 14 per cent had diabetes, but 4.4 per cent were unaware; 60 per cent had hypertension, but 29 per cent were unaware; 18.5 per cent had depression, and 6 per cent were aware. Equally concerning were the findings that 78.5 per cent were either overweight or obese, 44 per cent got no exercise, 61 per cent had insufficient exercise and 57 per cent reported some degree of erectile dysfunction.

The Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study was established six years ago to provide new population-based evidence on the biological, psychological and social determinants of health and health-related behaviours amongst males. The study now covers almost 1,200 randomly selected men aged between 35 and 80 who live in the north-west regions of Adelaide. It is one of only three studies internationally tracking the health of large groups of men over a long period of time to try to understand the key drivers of men's health and how we can best intervene to improve it.

A grant from the Premier's Science and Research Council has enabled the enrolment of a regional cohort in Whyalla and facilitated links with other relevant cohort studies. I am pleased to announce today that, through SA Health, the state government is contributing an additional $100,000 towards the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study. I have invited all members of parliament to a briefing on Thursday at 4 o'clock by Professor Villis Marshall, the Director of the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, for further information on the centre and broader issues around men's health.

I am also delighted to announce today, in what could be a world first, that Professor Villis Marshall and his team have offered all male members of parliament a quick health check to identify risk factors for chronic disease. The health check will be performed by the qualified clinical staff of the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study immediately following the briefing and will include: measurement of height, weight and waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose and blood cholesterol.

In addition, MPs will be provided with general information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, screening for bowel and prostate cancer and other male health concerns. This quick health check is a great opportunity for all male members of parliament to take a positive step towards improving their own personal health, and to show their constituents, by direct example, the importance of regular checkups to prevent more serious health problems in the future. I suggest to male members seriously, if they wish, to come along and have a check; bring a camera with you, we can have a photograph taken and you can use it—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: For a blood pressure check. You will get a nice photograph of yourself, which you can use in your newsletters to promote male health checks among your constituents.

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