Indicator 30: Risk factors

Indicator 30: Prevalence of risk factors in older person (such as smoking, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, and alcohol abuse,) by age, sex, and ethnicity
Indicator is fully reported? Yes.
Type of indicator Outcome indicator Outcome indicator
Our findings

Data about risk factors is collected by the New Zealand Health Survey and published by the Ministry of Health.[1]

Data is available by age, sex, and ethnicity, where the sample size permits.

Figure 1 summarises the available data for older people (aged 65-74 years and 75+) for selected risk factors over three surveys, which were completed in 2002/03, 2006/07, and 2011/12.

The figure shows that, compared to people aged 65-74 years, people aged 75+ were:

  • less likely to be smokers;
  • more likely to be physically inactive;
  • less likely to be hazardous drinkers; and
  • (for 2011/12 only) less likely to be obese.

The age groups were similar for being overweight, but not obese.

Detailed data tables and analysis are available at www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-new-zealand-adults-2011-12.
How entities use the data To monitor population health and propose or make policy and/or other adjustments to health services as needed.
Entity responsible for this indicator Ministry of Health.

Figure 1: Proportion of older people with selected risk factors, 2002/03, 2006/07, and 2011/12

Figure 1: Proportion of older people with selected risk factors, 2002/03, 2006/07, and 2011/12.

Source: Ministry of Health, www.health.govt.nz/publication/hazardous-drinking-2011-12-findings-new-zealand-health-survey and www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-new-zealand-adults-2011-12. Only the values for obesity for the 65-74 age group show a statistically significant difference from 2011/12 values. 

[1] www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-statistics/national-collections-and-surveys/surveys/current-recent-surveys/new-zealand-health-survey.

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