Health status and risk factors of Australians with disability 2007–08 and 2011–12

This report examines how health-related factors affect the health status of Australians with disability at the national population level. In 2011–12, half (51%) of people aged 15–64 with severe or profound disability reported poor or fair health, compared with 6% for those without disability. Half (50%) of people aged under 65 with severe or profound disability had mental health conditions, compared with 8% for those without disability. Higher proportions of people aged 15–64 with severe or profound disability compared with those without disability were obese (43% versus 25%), doing no physical exercise (46% versus 31%), daily smokers (31% versus 15%) and having a very high level of psychological distress (22% versus 1%).