A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows heart disease remains the biggest killer of Australians and the most costly disorder in the nation. In 2007-08 3.5 million Australians had long-term cardiovascular disease. Nearly 50000 deaths were attributed to heart and blood-vessel disease. Death rates for all major heart diseases (coronary heart disease stroke heart failure rheumatic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease) have declined greatly in the past 2 decades. The major contributors to heart disease are age smoking excess weight alcohol and poor diet.
