Disadvantaged Australians twice as likely to die from diabetes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report shows a troubling health divide between rich and poor

Australians living in disadvantaged parts of the country are twice as likely to die from diabetes factors as those in the wealthiest areas, according to new research that also suggests health inequality among men suffering heart attacks has worsened over the past decade.

A study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released on Thursday, examined how a person's socioeconomic position impacted their chances of developing or dying from diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.