Abstract
It is essential to determine the key health risk factors among populations to specifically plan future services and explore interventions that modify risk factors for communities. This aims to reduce risks and delay the onset of chronic conditions, which frequently results in dementia, particularly for small rural communities which experience health workforce shortages, a higher proportion of those in the chronic conditions age group, and reduced access to care. The aim of the study was to determine existing rates of chronic disease, and current lifestyle and sociodemographic factors which may predispose the population to higher risk of dementia. Residents from three shires in rural Victoria, Australia were recruited by random and non-random sampling techniques to complete a survey regarding health perceptions, pre-existing illnesses, health behaviors and social activity in their community. A total of 1474 people completed the survey. Positive factors reported were social participation and low rates of smoking. Negative factors included low rates of physical activity, high rates of obesity and high rates of chronic conditions that indicate significant risk factors for dementia in these communities. Although some factors are modifiable, these communities also have a large population of older residents. This study suggests that community interventions could modify lifestyle risk factors in these rural communities. These lifestyle factors, age of residents and the current chronic conditions are also important for rural service planning to increase preventive actions, and warn of the likely increase in the number of people developing chronic conditions with predispositon to dementia.
Highlights
The prevalence of chronic conditions is increasing in Australia with more than half of the population aged 65–84 years having five or more long term conditions, which contributes to 80% of disease burden in Australia [1]
The findings from this study in the Hume region suggest that a substantial proportion of rural Victorians are engaging in unhealthy lifestyles which may predispose them to developing a variety of chronic diseases, including dementia
The Australian Bureau of Statistics [23] reported that 13% of Moira, 17% of Greater Shepparton and 20% of the Rural City of Wangaratta residents had attained a tertiary qualification, which is similar to the results found in this study
Summary
The prevalence of chronic conditions is increasing in Australia with more than half of the population aged 65–84 years having five or more long term conditions, which contributes to 80% of disease burden in Australia [1]. Because chronic conditions are frequently a precursor to the development of dementia, rates of chronic conditions and health behaviors that predispose to chronic conditions impact on rates of dementia prevalence. Risk factors for chronic disease translate as risk factors for dementia. Dementia is a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities. Dementia has an insidious onset typically characterized by a decline in cognitive function, including memory and reasoning. It is one of the main causes of dependence and disability in older people [2] yet currently there is no cure [3]
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