A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW) puts the spotlight on the issue of incontinence,
its associated costs, and the impact on carers.
According to the report, Australian incontinence data
analysis and development, an estimated 545,000 people, or 2.8%
of the Australian adult population, experience severe incontinence,
while another 723,100 experience moderate urinary incontinence.
'Both monetary and non-monetary costs are high and the impact on
carers is considerable,' said Dr Samantha Bricknell of the AIHW's
Functioning and Disability Unit.
'Almost 60% of primary carers spent 40 hours or more a week
actively caring for or supervising a person with incontinence,' she
said.
Around 44% of primary carers reported a change in their physical
or emotional wellbeing since taking on the caring role, compared to
27% of carers who did not usually assist in managing incontinence.
A similar percentage of carers frequently felt worried or
depressed.
Mr John Goss of the AIHW's Summary Measures Unit said financial
costs associated with incontinence are also high.
'The estimated costs of incontinence in Australia in 2003
totalled $1.5 billion, while a wide range of personal costs such as
laundry, clothing and time are generally not captured,' Mr Goss
said.
By 2030-31, total expenditure on incontinence is projected to
increase by 201%, with the greatest increase in residential aged
care - a projected expenditure increase of 220% by 2030-31.
In 2003 an estimated 117,700 healthy life years were lost due to
incontinence, and the burden was particularly apparent for people
aged 75 years and over.
'Incontinence is responsible for around one-fifth of healthy
life lost for this age group, similar to dementia and hearing and
vision impairments,' Mr Goss said.
The burden of incontinence is expected to increase by 110%
between 2003 and 2031, with 53% of the increase occurring in the 85
years and older population, 27% in the 70-84 years population and
20% for those under 70 years.
2 March 2006
Further information: Dr Samantha Bricknell,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1138 or mob. 0407 915 851, or Mr John Goss,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1151 or mob. 0402 346 379
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of the Australian incontinence
data analysis and development report.