New Heart Foundation figures released have revealed the NSW regions with the highest and lowest rates of hospitalisations from heart attack.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven region ranks 14th out of 28 NSW regions for heart attack hospital admissions.
The statistics are part of the latest update to the Heart Foundation's Australian Heart Maps.
This is an online tool that allows users to look at data for heart disease deaths, hospitalisations and risk factors at a national, state, regional and LGA level.
Out of 28 regions in NSW, the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven region has the state's ninth highest rate of death from coronary heart disease.
The death rate in this region is 65 out of every 100,000 people, which is just about in line with the state average (64.5).
People in this region are hospitalised for coronary heart disease at a rate of 40.8 out of every 10,000 people, about 10 per cent below the state average.
In terms of heart disease risk factors, the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven region has the state's 11th highest rate of obesity.
Around 35 per cent of adults living in this region are obese.
This is slightly higher than the state average of 31 per cent.
The region ranks 11th again for smoking.
About 16 per cent of adults in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven region are smokers.
About 63 per cent of people in this region are not physically active enough for good health, and just over 23 per cent have high blood pressure.
According to the recently released data, the New England and North West region, which includes Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell, Moree and Gunnedah, has the state's highest rate of deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD).
This region's death rate is 85.8 out of every 100,000 people, well above the state average of 64.5.
It is also nearly double the region with the lowest rate, North Sydney and Hornsby.
Of the 10 NSW regions with the lowest CHD death rates, all are in metropolitan Sydney.
The Heart Foundation encouraged all NSW residents to take action to protect their heart health.
It recommended anyone 45 and over to talk to their GP about having a Heart Health Check.
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.
