Death by suicide is the 10th most common cause of death in the Shoalhaven according to the latest Australian Institute of Welfare and Health death data.
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The AIWH's top 20 causes of deaths in the Shoalhaven Local Government Area collates information on deaths between 2013 to 2017.
The leading cause of death is coronary heart disease followed by cerebrovascular disease (like stroke) and lung cancer. Melanoma was the 17th most common cause of death in the Shoalhaven during the four year period.
The death data also collated the median age of death and number of deaths in 2017. In total 1,099 people died in 2017 at a median age of 81. Of these deaths 48.5 per cent were deemed premature (meaning under 75 years old).
Of these deaths, 586 were males averaging 77 years old while the average age for females was 84.
The AIWH also calculated the amount of deaths that were potentially avoidable, including melonoma and falls. In the Shoalhaven seven per cent of the deaths were potentially avoidable in 2017.
Death data is used to examine patterns and trends to help explain differences and changes in the health of the Australian population. Causes of death are documented on a death certificate.
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The statistics are based on the underlying cause of death only.
These patterns are similar Australia wide. The leading cause of death for males in 2016 was heart disease whereas females were more likely to die from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
In NSW, 52,778 people died in 2017 with a median age of 82. Just under a third of these deaths deemed premature.
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