Accidental falls cost the Australian community $806 million a
year in direct health system costs - more than double the health
system costs for road traffic accidents, according to a report
released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare.
Health System Costs of Injury, Poisoning and Musculoskeletal
Disorders in Australia 1993-94 is the first systematic
analysis of the total health system costs of different types of
injuries and musculoskeletal disorders in Australia. It found that
accidental falls represented almost one third of total health
system costs related to injuries and poisoning. Falls in older
people (aged 65 and over) account for just over one half of total
fall costs.
AIHW's Principal Research Fellow, Dr Colin Mathers, said that
adverse effects from medical treatment were the second most costly
type of injury. 'This includes medical and surgical misadventure as
well as adverse reactions to drugs in therapeutic use,' Dr Mathers
said.
The top five external causes of injury that account for the most
health expenditure are:
| $806 million | (31% of total injury costs) |
- Adverse effects of medical treatment
| $401 million | (16%) |
| $370 million | (14%) |
| $124 million | (5%) |
- Suicide and self-inflicted injury
| $72 million | (3%) |
Dr Mathers said musculoskeletal disorders represented a huge
burden to the Australian community, costing more than $3 million in
1993-94 - higher than that for injury and poisoning, and only 20%
lower than the total health expenditure for cardiovascular
disease.
'Back problems are the most costly of the musculoskeletal
disorders,' Dr Mathers said. 'Back injuries cost an estimated $700
million a year, which is almost as large as expenditure on
accidental falls or high blood pressure.'
Other findings in Health System Costs of Injury, Poisoning
and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Australia 1993-94
include:
- Oesteoarthritis is the second most costly type of
musculoskeletal disorder, with health system costs of $624 million
in 1993-94;
- Costs of musculoskeletal disorders for women are around 38%
higher than those for men, largely because of the high costs of
these conditions for older women.
30 April 1999
Further information: Dr Colin Mathers, ph. 02
6244 1138.
For media copies of the report: Ms Lena Searle,
ph. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.