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Abstract
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Objective: To compare the all‐cause and specific‐cause death rates of Australian male farmers and farm managers aged 25-74 years, with other Australian men.
Methods: Data were extracted from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Death Registration Collection covering the calendar years of 1999-2002. Denominator data for male farmers and farm managers were drawn from the 2001 Australian Population Census. Direct age‐standardized death rates were calculated and compared with the general Australian male population.
Results: The 4025 male farmers or farm managers who died in this period represented 3.35% of all male deaths in the 25-74 year age range. The all‐cause death rate for farmers and farm managers (730/100 000) was 33% higher than that of the Australian male population of the same age (549/100 000) (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.33). Causes of death related to neoplasms (SMR = 1.37), circulatory disease (SMR = 1.40) and all external causes (SMR = 1.37), were all statistically higher than the comparison population. Within these groupings, ischaemic heart disease (SMR = 1.39), other circulatory disease (SMR = 1.42), prostate cancer (SMR = 2.40), lymphohaematopoietic cancer (SMR = 1.80) and transport injuries (SMR = 2.06), were all significantly higher.
Conclusion: These data indicate that Australian male farmers and farm managers are a disadvantaged group in terms of health status. The elevated rates of all‐cause and specific‐cause mortality compared with the Australian comparison population, illustrate both the need and scope for further investigation of these issues. |