Gesundheit und Krankheit in Österreich - Lebenswelt Heim

Summary
Socio-demographic factors
In 2001 Austria had approximately 8 033 000 inhabitants (48% men, 52% women).
From 1991 to 2001 Austria’s population rose by 3%, which is exclusively due to increases
in the age groups over 45. Population growth was strongest in the western
provinces (in particular Salzburg and the Tyrol). In Styria a slight decline was found. The
birth rate has continuously declined since 1991. By 2020 Austria’s population will grow
to 8.3 million, with one out of five Austrians older than 64 (demographic ageing). A
comparison of the individual provinces with regard to demographic structure and development,
social structure and regional economic situation shows a combination of unfavourable
characteristics especially for Burgenland and Styria, while the indicators for
the western provinces of the Tyrol and Vorarlberg are fairly positive.
State of health
In 2001 life expectancy in Austria was 75.5 years for men and 81.2 years for
women. In the western region (Salzburg, the Tyrol, Vorarlberg), it is higher for either
gender than in the east (Burgenland, Vienna, Lower Austria), and often significantly so.
Over time, regional differences in life expectancy have tended to become smaller, as
have differences between genders.
In the decade from 1992 to 2001, an approximate annual average of 79 000 deaths
(36 000 men; 43 000 women) was registered. Regarding mortality, cardio-vascular
diseases and cancer are the most significant causes of death in quantitative terms,
while the picture is completely different with regard to potential years of life lost (because
of death at an age under 65). Here men have lost significantly more years of life
due to accidents, injuries and poisoning, while cancer predominates in the case of
women. In the Tyrol and Vorarlberg mortality, reflecting higher life expectancy in
these provinces, is often considerably lower than in the eastern region, with regard to
major causes of death and also gender.
Contrary to the trend towards decreasing mortality, the number of hospital admissions
has risen to a current figure of about 2.4 million. For men, the most frequent causes
of hospital stays are injuries and poisoning, while it is pregnancy-related indications
in the case of women.
The incidence rate of cancer is approx. 38 000 new cases annually (about 18 500 men
and 19 500 women). In men, the organs where tumours are most frequently localised
are the prostate (approx. 3 700 cases annually), lungs (2 600), colon/rectum (1 500)
and the urinary bladder (1 200). Regarding women, breast cancer predominates (4 500
cases), followed by colorectal cancer (1 600) and pulmonary cancer (1 100).
Absence from work due to illness is primarily accounted for by the indications of
colds/upper respiratory infections (970 000 cases in 2001), orthopaedics, rheumatology
(460 000) and intestinal infections (235 000).
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