22 September 2009
HEART HEALTH AT WORK – WORLD HEART DAY 2009
Most Australians spend more than eight hours a day at work making this year’s World Heart
Day theme, “Work Heart”, a unique opportunity to build awareness and recognise opportunities
to promote heart health in the workplace, according to the Heart Foundation.
World Heart Day is Sunday 27 September 2009 and Work Heart is all about promoting
workplaces that encourages healthy habits which can reduce heart disease and stroke
Almost half of Australians who die from chronic disease are still in their productive working
years, resulting in significant economic consequences driven by reduced productivity and
increased costs caused by chronic disease among workforces. It is therefore vitally important
that opportunities are created to ensure a healthier workplace for all Australians.
The Heart Foundation is an advocate for environments that support healthy living and we see
it as incredibly important to set an example through our own facilities, workplace policies,
programs and culture. In keeping with this goal, the Heart Foundation has set up a Staff
Wellness Program that aims to provide a supportive and enabling organisational environment
that improves health and reduces the risk of developing chronic disease, including heart
disease. Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) is the leading cause
of death in Australia; it is responsible for 34% of all deaths in Australia, or a tragic one
Australian life lost every 10 minutes.
Cardiovascular disease has a measurable negative impact on employment, due to
absenteeism and early retirement. The days of reduced productivity at work for people with
cardiovascular disease are estimated to be 1.4 times higher than the average Australian.
In 2004, an estimated eight per cent (or one-in-12) of Australian workers aged 15 to 65¹ had
cardiovascular disease (approximately 764,000 people). The loss of tax revenue to
government (through income tax and indirect taxes) that year was estimated to be $656
million. Based on 2004 figures, if eight per cent of today’s workforce had cardiovascular
disease, this would represent 862,000 workers and an estimated loss of revenue of
approximately $750 million.
Heart Foundation CEO Cameron Prout, says that the corporate world seems to be taking
notice of the benefits related to a healthy workplace, which is a positive step.
“Businesses around the world have recognised the importance of employee health to achieve
core business objectives, and this has been encouraged by the World Health Organisation and
the World Economic Forum, which have also committed to include health promotion on their
own corporate agendas. Recognising initiatives that help to create a healthier workplace is
important. “Mr. Prout said.
World Heart Day was created to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke
are the world’s leading causes of death, claiming 17.2 million lives each year. In 2009, a total
of 26 countries are participating in World Heart Day activities.
-ends-
For further information please contact:
Jill Sims, Communications & Media Manager
Mobile 0421 911 116 or desk (07) 3872 2541
Source: Access Economics, The Shifting Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Australia, 2005
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