Spending on disease by Australian Burden of Disease groups

Burden of disease measures the impact of diseases and injuries on a population. It combines the years of healthy life lost due to living with ill health (non-fatal burden) with the years of life lost due to dying prematurely (fatal burden). The Australian Burden of Disease Study (ABDS) includes estimates of disease burden due to 220 diseases and injuries in Australia. In this disease hierarchy, each disease is allocated to one of 17 disease groups. The burden of disease groups contain related diseases or conditions – such as cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, or injuries – and one alternative reporting disease group (nature of injury vs injury by external cause). These groups are listed in the figures below.

Not all health spending is directly related to a burden of disease condition or group. The AIHW Disease Expenditure database also incorporates three additional groups – well care, the treatment of risk factors and examination and observation not elsewhere classified (NEC). These groups include medical treatments for risk factors, long term outcomes of some conditions, well care and prevention causes, and other interventions and symptoms that are reported as the reasons for provision of health care. Refer to the Technical notes in this web report and to the accompanying methods report, Health system spending on disease and injury in Australia 2023–24: Overview of analysis and methodology, available in the Related material section, for further information on the inclusions for these additional groups.

In 2023–24, cancer and other neoplasms was the disease group with the highest spending ($19.7 billion), followed by cardiovascular diseases ($16.9 billion), and musculoskeletal disorders ($16.3 billion).

Spending on disease groups by area of expenditure

In 2023–24 spending on disease groups varied across different areas of spending.

  • For public hospital admitted patients, the highest spending was for cardiovascular diseases ($7.6 billion), followed by cancer and other neoplasms ($7.2 billion) and infectious diseases ($6.5 billion).
  • For private hospital admitted patients, musculoskeletal disorders had the highest spending ($5.5 billion), followed by cardiovascular diseases ($2.9 billion) and cancer and other neoplasms ($2.7 billion).
  • For general practitioner services, the highest spending was for infectious diseases ($2.2 billion) followed by mental health conditions and substance use disorders ($1.3 billion) and musculoskeletal disorders ($1.2 billion).
  • Over half (53%) of spending for allied health and other health practitioners related to mental health conditions and substance use disorders ($1.4 billion), with one-quarter (25%) relating to hearing and vision disorders ($0.6 billion).

The following interactive data visualisation (Figure 5) shows health spending for each disease group by area of expenditure, for Australia and for each state and territory. Expenditure can be displayed as totals or as expenditure per 100,000 population. Data used to create the visualisation is available to download from the data tables.

Figure 5: Expenditure for Burden of Disease groups by area of expenditure, 2023–24

This figure explores broad and detailed spending on disease by area of expenditure at the national and state and territory level. Cardiovascular diseases ranks the highest burden of disease group for hospitals, cancer leads in primary health care and referred medical services. In 2023–24, infectious diseases were the primary reason for GP visits.

Visualisation not available for printing

The proportion of total spending related to disease groups varies substantially according to age group, sex, and area of expenditure.

Spending on disease groups by age group and sex

In 2023–24, there was higher overall spending for females ($96 billion) than males ($85 billion). For males we generally see a steady increase in spending through to the older age groups with a peak in the 75–79 year age group. For females we see an increase in spending during the child bearing years from 25–39 followed by a decrease in spending from 40 to 49 then an increase in spending up to a peak in the 70–74 year age group.

In 2023–24 spending on disease groups varied by age group and sex.

  • Within the Infectious diseases group, spending was the highest for people aged over 70 years and 1–4 years.
  • Spending on mental health conditions and substance use disorders was higher for females ($6.6 billion) than males ($5.7 billion) in 2023–24. For females, spending peaked for those aged 30–34 years. For males, spending peaked for those aged 40–44 years.
  • For Cancer and other neoplasms, spending was higher for males ($10.5 billion) than females ($9.2 billion) in 2023–24 and peaked for both males and females in the 70–74 years age group.
  • Spending on Cardiovascular diseases was higher for males ($9.9 billion) than females ($7.0 billion) in 2023–24. For males, spending peaked for those aged 75–79 years. For females, spending peaked for those aged 85+.

The following interactive data visualisation (Figure 6) shows spending on disease groups by area of expenditure, age group and sex. Expenditure can be displayed as totals or as expenditure per 100,000 population. Data used to create the visualisation is available to download from the data tables.

Figure 6: Disease expenditure by detailed area of expenditure, sex, age group and disease or injury group, 2023–24

This stacked vertical bar chart shows that expenditure increases with age. For individuals aged 25–44, mental health conditions and substance use disorders was a higher share of this spending compared to other age groups. In older age groups, cancer and cardiovascular diseases dominate spending. Among females, well care and reproductive and maternal conditions lead in the 20–39 age group, with musculoskeletal issues, cardiovascular diseases and cancer rising in later years. For males, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the top contributors to disease spending in older age groups.

This stacked vertical bar chart shows that expenditure increases with age. For individuals aged 25–44, mental health conditions and substance use disorders was a higher share of this spending compared to other age groups. In older age groups, cancer and cardiovascular diseases dominate spending. Among females, well care and reproductive and maternal conditions lead in the 20–39 age group, with musculoskeletal issues, cardiovascular diseases and cancer rising in later years. For males, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the top contributors to disease spending in older age groups.

The following interactive data visualisation (Figure 7) shows spending on disease groups in 2023–24 by detailed area of expenditure, sex and age group. Expenditure can be displayed as totals or as expenditure per 100,000 population. Data used to create the visualisation is available to download from the data tables.

Figure 7: Expenditure on Burden of Disease or Injury group by detailed area of expenditure, sex and age group, 2023–24

This butterfly chart shows that expenditure for males tends to increase with age up to 75–79. For females there are peaks in the child bearing years as well as from 70–79 years.

This butterfly chart shows that expenditure for males tends to increase with age up to 75–79. For females there are peaks in the child bearing years as well as from 70–79 years.
Previous page
Next page