Count of selected long-term health conditions (CLTHP)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
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Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable describes the number of selected long-term health conditions a person has reported. The selected long-term health conditions include:

  • arthritis
  • asthma
  • cancer (including remission)
  • dementia (including Alzheimer’s)
  • diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes)
  • heart disease (including heart attack or angina)
  • kidney disease
  • lung condition (including COPD or emphysema)
  • mental health condition (including depression or anxiety)
  • stroke

‘Any other long-term health condition(s)’ are excluded from the count.

Scope

All persons

Categories

CodeCategory
0None of the selected conditions
1One condition
2Two conditions
3Three or more conditions
&Not stated
VOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 6 

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

Has the person been told by a doctor or nurse that they have any of these long-term health conditions?

Has the person been told by a doctor or nurse that they have any of these long-term health conditions?
Has Person 1 been told by a doctor or nurse that they have any of these long-term health conditions? Include health conditions that have lasted or are expected to last for six months or more. Include health conditions that: • may recur from time to time, or • are controlled by medication, or • are in remission. Select all that apply. Person's long-term health conditions Arthritis Asthma Cancer (including remission) Dementia (including Alzheimer's) Diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes) Heart disease (including heart attack or angina) Kidney disease Lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) Mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) Stroke Any other long-term health condition(s) No long-term health condition

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from responses to the Long-term health conditions question. It counts the number of selected long-term conditions a person reports.

If a person marks only ‘Any other long-term health condition(s)’ on the Census form, they are not counted as having a long-term health condition in this variable. These people are counted in category 0, 'None of the Selected Conditions'. However, if a person selects, for example, ‘Asthma’ and ‘Any other long-term health condition(s)’ on the Census form, they would be included in category 1, ‘One condition’.

People who report over three conditions are grouped together in category 3, ‘Three or more conditions’.

History and changes

This is a new variable for 2021.

Data use considerations

The count of selected long-term health condition responses, including no conditions, are not comparable to similar counts derived from other health collections such as the National Health Survey (NHS) and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Surveys (NATSIHS). Different sets of selected health conditions questions are asked in these other collections. For more information, see Comparing ABS long-term health conditions data sources.

The non-response rate for Count of long-term health conditions (CLTHP) was 8.1% in 2021. 

Related variables and glossary terms

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