Osteoporosis (meaning ‘porous bones’) is a condition that causes bones to become thin, weak and fragile. This occurs when bones lose minerals, such as calcium, faster than the body can replace them. Decreases in bone mineral density and changes in bone quality make bones more fragile and easily broken than bones of ‘normal’ density. As...

This fact sheet summarises information from the AIHW's online musculoskeletal compendium. Summary Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition mostly affecting the joints such as hips, knees and ankles. The main symptoms include pain, stiffness and limited joint movement which get worse over time. Normally, healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. In people with...

This fact sheet summarises information from the AIHW's online musculoskeletal compendium. Summary Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease marked by inflammation of the joints, most often affecting the hand joints and both sides of the body at the same time. It can also affect the whole body, including the organs leading to problems with the...

This report presents estimates of fatal burden for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians for 2010. Estimates of the 'gap' in fatal burden between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are also reported, together with selected sub-national estimates (selected states and territories, remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage). Key findings There were around 2,950 deaths of Indigenous Australians in...

Summary: Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease-Australian facts: risk factors is the fourth in a series of national reports by the National Centre for Monitoring Vascular Diseases at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It describes health risk factors and their associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) using...