Cardiovascular disease and nervous system disorders are the
diseases accounting for the greatest expenditure on health in
Australia, according to a new report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Health System Expenditure on Disease and Injury in
Australia, 2000-01 shows that health expenditure estimates,
classified by disease or injury group, were highest for
cardiovascular diseases at $5.4 billion (or 11% of total allocated
health expenditure), somewhat more than money spent on nervous
system disorders, at $4.9 billion.
Report author John Goss said that the high level of expenditure
for nervous system disorders can be attributed to the large costs
of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in aged care homes.
'Total expenditure on the dementias was $2.3 billion in 2000-01.
This has grown significantly since our last study in 1993-94 and
explains the above average 44% increase in expenditure for nervous
system disorders.'
Next in line in the top seven groups for expenditure were
musculoskeletal conditions at $4.7 billion (9.6% of total allocated
health expenditure), followed by injuries at $4.1 billion (8.3%);
respiratory diseases, $3.5 billion (7.2%); oral health, $3.4
billion (6.9%); and mental disorders at $3.0 billion (6.1%).
Together, these seven conditions account for $29 billion, or 59%
of allocated health expenditure.
In other figures, John Goss said that per person health
expenditure allocated by disease was 24% higher for females, at
$2,826, than for males at $2,273.
'When maternal conditions are excluded, expenditure per person
for females is still higher than for males by 18%,' he said.
'Females recorded higher expenditure per person for nervous
system, musculoskeletal and oral health conditions whereas males
accounted for more expenditure for the cardiovascular, cancer and
injury groups.'
The report also reflects the fluctuations evident in health
expenditure as people age, with males and females following similar
patterns through childhood, females' expenditure peaking during
peak childbearing years of 25 to 34 then dropping for the 35 to 44
year group, and expenditure for both males and females rising
sharply as people age.
11 May 2004
Further information: Mr John Goss, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1151, or mobile
0407 915 851.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for availability of Health System
Expenditure on Disease and Injury in Australia, 2000-01, May
2004.