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 instead of 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 now incorporates three additional groups – well care, the treatment of risk factors and examination and observation 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 2022–23: Overview of analysis and methodology, available in the Related material section, for further information on the inclusions for these additional groups.

In 2022–23, cancer and other neoplasms was the disease group with the highest spending ($18.9 billion), followed by cardiovascular diseases ($16.2 billion), and musculoskeletal disorders ($15.9 billion).

Spending on disease groups by area of expenditure

In 2022–23 spending on disease groups varied across different areas of spending.

  • For public hospital admitted patients, the highest spending was for cardiovascular diseases ($7.1 billion), followed by cancer and other neoplasms ($6.4 billion) and gastrointestinal disorders ($6.1 billion).
  • In private hospitals, musculoskeletal disorders had the highest spending ($6.1 billion), followed by cardiovascular diseases ($3.3 billion) and cancer and other neoplasms ($3.1 billion).
  • For general practitioner services, the highest spending was for infectious diseases ($2.0 billion) followed by mental health conditions and substance use disorders ($1.2 billion).
  • Almost half (49%) of spending for allied health and other health practitioners related to mental health conditions and substance use disorders ($1.2 billion), with around one-quarter (24%) 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. 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, 2022–23

This figure explores broad and detailed spending on disease by area of expenditure at the national and state and territory level. Cardiovascular diseases ranks highest burden of disease group for hospital services, cancer leads in primary health care and referred medical services. In 2022–23, infectious diseases were the primary reason for GP visits.

This figure explores broad and detailed spending on disease by area of expenditure at the national and state and territory level. Cardiovascular diseases ranks highest burden of disease group for hospital services, cancer leads in primary health care and referred medical services. In 2022–23, infectious diseases were the primary reason for GP visits.

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 2022–23 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 ($6.2 billion) than males ($5.5 billion) in 2022–23. For females, spending peaked for those aged 30–34 years. For males, spending peaked for those aged 35–39 years.
  • For Cancer and other neoplasms, spending was higher for males ($10.0 billion) than females ($8.5 billion) in 2022–23 and peaked for both males and females in the 70–74 years age group.
  • Spending on Cardiovascular diseases was higher for males ($9.4 billion) than females ($6.8 billion) in 2022–23. 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 the top 5 disease groups for each sex and age group combination, for each area of expenditure. 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, 2022–23

This stacked vertical bar chart shows that expenditure increases with age. For individuals aged 25–39, mental health conditions and substance use disorders was a large contributor to this spending. 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 25–39, mental health conditions and substance use disorders was a large contributor to this spending. 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 2022–23 by sex and age group. 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 sex and age group, 2022–23

This butterfly chart shows that expenditure for both males and females increases with age. For cardiovascular diseases, spending was highest for males in the 75–79 aged group whereas for females it was highest in the 85+ age group. For mental health conditions and substance use disorders, spending was highest for males in the 35-39 age group and for females in the 30-34 aged group. Well care spending is significantly higher for females, with the highest expenditure in the 30–34 age group.

This butterfly chart shows that expenditure for both males and females increases with age. For cardiovascular diseases, spending was highest for males in the 75–79 aged group whereas for females it was highest in the 85+ age group. For mental health conditions and substance use disorders, spending was highest for males in the 35-39 age group and for females in the 30-34 aged group. Well care spending is significantly higher for females, with the highest expenditure in the 30–34 age group.
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