Number of medical consultations at Australian Antarctic stations, 1986-2019

This dataset was originally set up as a "State of the Environment" indicator - however, that application no longer functions at the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, so the data have been extracted and attached to this original metadata record for the indicator.Information was obtained from the ANARE Health Register. See Metadata record entitled ANARE Health Register.INDICATOR DEFINITIONThe rates of illness and injury per 1000 person years in all continental Antarctic stations and Macquarie Island.RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTIONHuman health can be an indicator of the natural and man-made environment. Some of the factors affecting human health can be directly related to the quality of the environment. Monitoring the rate of medical consultations in Antarctica can provide useful baseline information on illness and injury rates, and potentially provide insight into health trends due to Antarctic conditions.In Antarctica the man-made environment is of particular importance due to the highly adverse nature of the natural environment and as a surrogate for the isolation of outer space. Without dwellings and support structures human habitation of Antarctica would be impossible. The interaction between people and the natural environment is also worthy of attention. The rate of various injuries and illnesses can be attributed, at least in part, to the severe conditions present in the Antarctic. Antarctica also provides useful data on the effects of isolated and confined environments (ICE) on human health.There are some straightforward examples of direct relationships between environmental factors and human health. However, multiple causation and the complexity of mediating processes mean that it is typically difficult to relate specific 'environmental' inputs to particular health outcomes.DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAMSpatial scale: Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stationsFrequency: Monthly figures reported annuallyMeasurement Technique: Time series information to determine trends in medical consultations. Information was obtained from the ANARE Health Register. See Metadata record entitled ANARE Health Register.RESEARCH ISSUESDue to the unique nature of the environment and the expeditioners residing in Antarctica, comparison with similar groups elsewhere would be valuable.The database has reached sufficient size to justify closer analysis of data that may discern trends in health and provide a better picture of the effects of the Antarctic environment. Trends may not be obvious and may have a considerable impact on human activities in the Antarctic.Does the presence of people and potential pathogens influence the rate of disease among populations of Antarctic wildlife?

本数据集最初被搭建为"环境状况"（State of the Environment）指标体系，但该应用目前已在澳大利亚南极数据中心（Australian Antarctic Data Centre）停用，因此我们已提取相关数据，并将其附加至该指标的原始元数据记录中。数据信息源自ANARE健康登记册（ANARE Health Register），详见标题为《ANARE健康登记册》的元数据记录。

指标定义
每1000人年的疾病与受伤发生率，统计范围覆盖所有南极大陆科考站及麦夸里岛（Macquarie Island）。

指标选取依据
人类健康状况可作为自然与人为环境的指示因子。部分影响人类健康的因素可直接与环境质量相关联。对南极地区医疗就诊率进行监测，可获取疾病与受伤发生率的有效基线信息，还有助于探究南极环境下的健康变化趋势。
在南极地区，由于自然环境条件极端恶劣，人为环境的重要性尤为突出；同时南极环境可作为外太空隔绝环境的替代研究场景。若无居住设施与保障结构，人类无法在南极定居。人类与自然环境的交互作用同样值得关注。各类伤病发生率至少可部分归因于南极严苛的环境条件。此外，南极还可为隔离与受限环境（isolated and confined environments, ICE）对人类健康的影响研究提供宝贵数据。
尽管存在环境因素与人类健康直接相关的明确案例，但由于多因性及介导过程的复杂性，通常难以将特定"环境"输入与具体健康结果建立直接关联。

指标监测方案设计与策略
空间尺度：澳大利亚南极及亚南极科考站
监测频率：月度数据按年度汇总上报
监测技术：通过时间序列数据分析医疗就诊率变化趋势。数据源自ANARE健康登记册（ANARE Health Register），详见标题为《ANARE健康登记册》的元数据记录。

研究议题
鉴于南极环境及驻留科考人员的独特性，与全球其他类似群体开展对比研究将具有重要价值。
当前数据库规模已足够支撑对数据进行更深入的分析，以识别健康变化趋势，更全面地展现南极环境的影响。部分健康趋势可能并不显著，却可能对南极人类活动产生显著影响。
人类与潜在病原体的存在是否会影响南极野生动物种群的疾病发生率？