Socioeconomic Disadvantage Tied to Higher Risk of Chronic Disease
22 Oct 2025
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, a study examined over 11 million Australians aged 40 and above, considering both socioeconomic factors and the occurrence of various chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, mental health issues, stroke, and cancer.
Key findings from the study include:
- Nine out of the ten chronic conditions were more common in people from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
- The only exception was cancer, which was found to have lower rates among those in more disadvantaged groups.
- While education level and job status had some impact on health conditions, the influence was not as consistent as that seen with the level of disadvantage in the area someone lives in.
Expert opinions:
Dr Joanna Gong from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute pointed out the importance of having a coordinated healthcare approach.
She said, "General practitioners are often the first to notice how a person's socioeconomic status affects their health. Recognizing social stressors, modifying care approaches, and connecting patients to local services can help stop illnesses from getting worse and reduce health inequalities over time."
Dr Tim Senior, who leads the RACGP Specific Interests Poverty and Health, mentioned the lack of financial support for healthcare practices that serve disadvantaged communities.
He explained, "Bulk billing limits the resources available for longer appointments needed by patients with complex health needs, and there is little funding for addressing social factors like housing, food costs, or air quality." He suggested that primary care funding should take into account socioeconomic disadvantage to better support both prevention and complex care.
The study also points out the importance of addressing health inequalities early in life.
It notes that many age-related conditions appear earlier in people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Differences in disease risk related to disadvantage were also observed between genders, which should guide how policies are developed.
Both Dr Gong and Dr Senior agree that working together across the healthcare system and the wider community is essential to reduce health inequalities and improve overall health outcomes.
Source: Medical Journal of Australia / newsGP – newsgp.com.au
