SmarterEd

Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 021 MC

The graph below shows rates of hospitalisation for asthma in Australia from 2010 to 2022.

Which statement best explains how this data represents morbidity in the Australian population?

  1. It demonstrates the prevalence of asthma in Australia.
  2. It indicates the mortality rate associated with asthma.
  3. It shows the burden of illness caused by asthma requiring hospital care.
  4. It reflects the incidence of new asthma cases diagnosed each year.
Show Answers Only

\( C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct because hospitalisation rates are a measure of morbidity, showing the burden of illness severe enough to require hospital treatment.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect as prevalence refers to all existing cases, not just those requiring hospitalisation.
  • B is incorrect as the data shows illness (morbidity) not deaths (mortality).
  • D is incorrect as hospitalisations don’t necessarily represent new diagnoses but could include existing cases that are worsening.