Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ1: Prevention of chronic diseases
Following is a question by the Dr Hon Philip Wong and a reply by the Secretary
for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (July 4):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) in the past five years, of the median incidence age of psychiatric illnesses
as well as the respective median and average ages of incidence and ages at death
of patients of malignant neoplasm diseases and various chronic diseases (such as
cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, nephrosis and liver disease); and how
such figures compare with the relevant figures 10 years ago;
(b) whether it has examined the relationship between the trend of persons
suffering from chronic diseases at a younger age and the environment as well as
people's living habits; if it has, of the results; if it has not, how the
Government assesses the causes leading to such a phenomenon; and
(c) whether it has assessed how the above phenomenon has affected Hong Kong's
productivity and medical expenditure, and what measures the Government have
taken to ameliorate the situation?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) According to the death register book, there is an upward trend in the median
and mean ages of death for patients of cardiovascular disease, diabetes
mellitus, malignant neoplasm diseases, kidney disease, liver disease and stroke
between 2001 and 2005 as compared with the relevant figures ten years ago.
Relevant figures are listed in Annex 1. We do not maintain statistics on the
median and mean ages of incidence for patients suffering from these diseases,
nor the data on the median incidence ages of psychiatric illnesses.
(b) To gain a better understanding of the health profile of the population in
Hong Kong, the Department of Health (DH) has, through different channels,
collated data on chronic diseases, including mortality rate, incidence rate, age
profile and risk factors of the diseases.
As it is shown in the studies by the public health and medical sectors, chronic
diseases are closely associated with behavioural risk factors such as smoking,
alcoholism, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and obesity. While there is no
downward trend in the ages at death of patients suffering from common chronic
diseases in Hong Kong, some behavioural risk factors are commonly found in
younger age groups according to the research conducted by the DH. The relevant
figures are detailed in Annex 2.
Besides, according to the statistics collected among students of Primary One to
Form Seven in day schools by the Student Health Service of the DH, there has
been an upward trend of obesity among school children over the past ten years.
Detailed statistics are set out in Annex 3. Since obesity would lead to other
complications and chronic illnesses, the Student Health Service has started to
test the sugar level in urine for obese school children since the 2004-05 school
year. School children who are tested positive will be referred to the
paediatrics under the Hospital Authority (HA) for thorough follow-up and
checking to ascertain whether they have diabetes mellitus. Statistics show that
there is no upward trend in diabetes mellitus among primary and secondary school
students. In addition, the detection rate of hypertension has also remained at a
low level over the past ten years.
(c) At present, there is no concrete evidence indicating the trend of persons
suffering from chronic diseases at a younger age in Hong Kong. However, it is
our policy to identify the trend in chronic diseases at an early stage and to
take various preventive measures to enable early detection and treatment. At
this stage, we have not conducted any comprehensive quantitative study to assess
how the trend of persons suffering from chronic diseases at a younger age has
affected Hong Kong's productivity and medical expenditure. The Government plans
to conduct studies on individual chronic diseases with a rising morbidity rate,
e.g. diabetes mellitus, so as to assess the burden that these diseases would
impose on Hong Kong's overall economy and the pressure to be added to the public
health care system by the provision of relevant treatment, with the ultimate
objective of achieving more effective prevention of diseases and reduction of
their morbidity rates.
To strengthen the prevention of chronic diseases, the DH has proactively
launched a number of major territory-wide health promotion and publicity
campaigns in recent years, which are in line with the "Global Strategy on Diet,
Physical Activity and Health" advocated by the World Health Organization. The
aim is to create an environment that facilitates and encourages people to
develop healthy eating habits and do an adequate amount of exercises.
On the promotion of healthy diet, the DH has rolled out the "EatSmart@school.hk"
Campaign in collaboration with the Hong Kong Association for the Study of
Obesity, Hong Kong College of Cardiology, Hong Kong Nutrition Association and
relevant professional bodies in all primary schools in Hong Kong in the 2006-07
school year, so as to create a living environment that encourages and supports
healthy diet among the young generation.
As for the promotion of exercises, the DH has joined forces with the Leisure and
Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to organise the "Healthy Exercise for All
Campaign" since 2000 to encourage the public in choosing and doing exercises
commensurate with their abilities and interests. Since 2003, the DH has also run
some programmes in public housing estates, LCSD facilities and other buildings
to drive home the message of "Stair Climbing to Health" and encourage the public
to make use of the staircase frequently. Furthermore, it has worked with the MTR
Corporation in 2006 to encourage passengers to use the stairs in all MTR
stations.
Besides, the DH has strived to minimise the harmful effects of second-hand smoke
through tobacco control. To this end, the DH will continue to promote healthy
eating, a smoke-free culture and a healthy lifestyle among the public through
announcement of public interest (API) on radio and television, leaflets,
posters, websites and the 24-hour Health Education Hotline.
In the long run, it is essential for us to enhance our primary health care
services so as to improve public health, achieve more effective disease
prevention and arrest the trend of persons suffering from chronic diseases at
younger age. Effective delivery of primary health care services can improve
public health. It can also serve to relieve the pressure on the hospital system.
By highlighting the availability of primary health care services, we can raise
public awareness of the importance of maintaining their health, which is
considered the most effective way of preventing and minimising the incidence of
diseases, in particular chronic diseases.
Ends/Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:54
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Annexes to LCQ1