Cataract surgery rate

Measure 3.4: The number of hospital separations with a procedure for cataract surgery, per 1,000,000 Indigenous population.

Hospitalisations reflect both the occurrence in the population of eye conditions which are serious enough to require hospitalisation, as well as access to and use of hospitals services.  The cataract surgery rate is calculated per million to align with international standards.

Figure 3.4: Cataract surgery rate

There are 8 separate charts for this measure showing hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, by various characteristics.

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, 2016–18 and 2018–20

This dual axis combined vertical bar chart and scatter plot compares hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2016–18 and 2018–20. The chart shows that in 2016–18, the number of hospitalisations for cataract surgery was 5,460 (3,355 per 1,000,000) and in 2018–20 the number of hospitalisations was 6,150 (3,636 per 1,000,000 population).

Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status and region, 2018–20

This grouped vertical bar chart compares age standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2018–20, by remoteness category and Indigenous status. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were lower than for non-Indigenous Australians in Major cities (6,670 and 7,901 per 1,000,000, respectively) and Inner and outer regional areas combined (7,648 and 8,461 per 1,000,000, respectively) but higher in Remote and very remote areas combined (8,232 and 7,079 per 1,000,000 respectively).

Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status and jurisdiction, 2018–20

This grouped vertical bar chart compares age standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2018–20, by jurisdiction and Indigenous status. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were lower than for non-Indigenous in all jurisdictions except South Australia.

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by age and sex, 2018–20

This grouped vertical bar chart compares hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery for Indigenous Australians in 2018–20, by age and sex. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates rose with age for both males and females. Hospitalisation rates were similar for males and females in younger age groups. However, for those aged 55–64 and 65–74 rates were higher for Indigenous females (14,611 and 42,268 per 1,000,000, respectively) than Indigenous males (13,324 and 39,152 per 1,000,000, respectively). For those aged 75 and over rates were higher for Indigenous males (60,631 per 1,000,000) than Indigenous females (48,131 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by PHN, 20178–20 (bar chart)

This horizontal bar chart compares the hospitalisation rate for cataract surgery for Indigenous Australians in 2018–20, by PHN, grouped by state. The chart shows that the PHNs with the lowest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery were Western Sydney, the Australian Capital Territory and Nepean Blue Mountains (NSW) (all under 1,700 per 1,000,000). The PHNs with the highest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were Western Queensland (Qld), Murrumbidgee (NSW) and Hunter New England and Central Coast (NSW) (all over 4,700 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by age, 2012–13 to 2019–20

This line graph shows, Indigenous hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, from 2012–13 to 2019–20, by age. In general, the rates rose over time across all age groups from 2012–13 to 2018–19 before falling from 2018–19 to 2019–20. Among those aged 65–74, the crude rate rose from 34,547 per 1,000,000 in 2012–13 to 42,762 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19 before declining to 38,883 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20. Among those aged 75 and over, the rate rose from 46,468 per 1,000,000 in 2012–13 to 58,877 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19 before declining to 48,026 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20.

Hospitalisations for non-Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by age, 2012–13 to 2018–20

This line graph shows, non-Indigenous hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, from 2012–13 to 2018–20, by age. In general, rates rose over time across all age groups except those aged 75 and over, from 2012–13 to 2018–19 before falling from 2018–19 to 2019–20.  Among those aged 65–74, the crude rate rose from 41,119 per 1,000,000 in 2012–13 to 46,926 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19 before declining to 40,004 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20. Among those aged 75 and over, the rate declined from 67,598 per 1,000,000 in 2012–13 to 55,420 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20.

Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status, 2012–13 to 2019–20

This line graph shows, age-standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, from 2012–13 to 2019–20, by Indigenous status. Rates increased for Indigenous Australians from 6,681 per 1,000,000 in 2012–13 to 8,130 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19 before declining to 6,884 in 2019–20. Rates did not change as much for non-Indigenous Australians over this period: from 8,493 per 1,000,000 to 8,737 per 1,000,000 before declining to 7,413 per 1,000,000. The trend line shows there has been a slight increase in the age-standardised hospitalisation rate for Indigenous Australians over this time

 

  • In the two-year period from 2018–20, there were around 6,200 hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery—a rate of 3,636 per 1,000,000 population. The number of hospitalisations over the two-year period 2018–20 was below the estimated annual number of Indigenous people needing cataract surgery (14,656).
  • In 2019–20, the age-specific rate of hospitalisations was higher for Indigenous Australians aged 45–54 and 55–64 than for non-Indigenous Australians of the same age. However, at older ages, age-specific rates were higher for non-Indigenous Australians than Indigenous Australians.
  • Between 2012–13 and 2018–19, the age-standardised rate for cataract surgery for Indigenous Australians increased from 6,681 to 8,130 and then dropped to 6,884 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20, while the rate for non-Indigenous Australians increased from 8,493 to 8,737 in 2018–19 and then dropped to 7,413 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20.