Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions are a major cause of
pain and disability among Australians, and with an estimated 6.1
million people having one or more of these conditions, the
resulting expenditure on health services is substantial says a new
report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Health expenditure for arthritis and
musculoskeletal conditions in Australia 2000-01, provides
details of expenditure on five major forms of arthritis and
musculoskeletal conditions: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoporosis, chronic back pain, and slipped disc.
Report co-author Ms Tracy Dixon says the economic and personal
burdens these conditions place on the community are high.
'Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions are the third largest
contributors to direct health expenditure in Australia, at $4.6
billion or 9.2% of total allocatable health expenditure in
2000-01,' Ms Dixon said.
Osteoarthritis accounted for 26% of the expenditure on arthritis
and musculoskeletal conditions, at $1.2 billion. A further 12% was
spent on chronic back pain and 6% on slipped disc. Rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoporosis each accounted for around 5% of the
expenditure. The remainder was spent on other musculoskeletal
conditions such as gout and juvenile arthritis.
Report co-author Ms Elizabeth Penm says that although hospital
services (for surgery or treatment of acute symptoms) accounted for
a large component of the expenditure, out-of-hospital medical
services, other professional services and pharmaceuticals were also
large contributors to the expenditure.
'In most cases, management of arthritis and musculoskeletal
conditions involves the general practitioner or specialist,
physical and occupational therapists, and use of medications to
relieve pain and reduce inflammation,' Ms Penm said.
On average, health expenditure (adjusted for inflation) on
arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions increased by 4.3% annually
between 1993-94 and 2000-01. This is a smaller rate of increase
than the overall average annual increase in health expenditure in
Australia over the same period.
'Because arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions become more
common with age, the burden associated with them is likely to
increase as the Australian population ages. This may lead to
greater health expenditure on these conditions in the future,' Ms
Dixon said.
4 August 2006
Further information: Ms Tracy Dixon, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1103, mob. 0407 915 851.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of the Health expenditure for
arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions in Australia 2000-01
report.