title: The health of Hunter Valley communities in proximity to coal mining and power generation, general practice data, 1998-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An analysis of general practice data for rural communities in close proximity to coal mining and coal-fired power generation in the Hunter Valley region of NSW was conducted to identify unusual patterns of illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health general practice consultation data from the Hunter Valley region for 1998-2010 were compared with data from all other rural NSW residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significantly higher rates of problems managed or medications prescribed for Hunter Valley region residents compared with the rest of rural NSW. Rates of respiratory problem management in the Hunter Valley region did not change significantly over time, while for all other rural NSW areas these rates significantly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no evidence of significantly elevated health issues for residents in the Hunter Valley region of NSW. The diverging trend for respiratory problem management over time is worthy of further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health.
authors.forename: Tony D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Merritt
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cretikos
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Durrheim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003032:Coal Mining; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D011211:Electric Power Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult