Heart, stroke and vascular disease: Australian facts

How much is spent on cardiovascular disease?

In 2023–24, an estimated 9.4% of total health system spending on disease and injury in Australia ($16.9 billion) was attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD) (AIHW 2025).

CVD was the disease group with the second highest expenditure in 2023–24, behind cancer and other neoplasms ($19.7 billion). The high expenditure on CVD reflects its position as a leading cause of death and a major contributor to the overall burden of disease in Australia.

The most expensive cardiovascular diseases in 2023–24 were coronary heart disease (CHD), atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF) and stroke. An estimated:

• 22% of CVD expenditure ($3.8 billion) was spent on CHD
• 12% of CVD expenditure ($2.1 billion) was spent on AF
• 12% of CVD expenditure ($2.0 billion) was spent on stroke (Figure 1).

Where is the money spent?

In 2023–24, nearly three-quarters of health system spending allocated to CVD (74% or $12.5 billion) was spent on hospital services. This included expenditure on public hospital admitted patients ($7.6 billion), private admitted patients ($2.9 billion), public hospital outpatients ($822.1 million) and public hospital emergency departments ($1.2 billion).

Another 14% ($2.4 billion) related to non-hospital medical services (primary and referred care), comprising medical imaging ($1.3 billion), GP services ($473.3 million), specialist services ($490.7 million), pathology ($118.9 million) and allied health and other services ($21.6 million).

A small amount of CVD expenditure (0.2% or $30.6 million) was spent on dental services.

The remaining 12% ($2.0 billion) was spent on prescription pharmaceuticals dispensed through the PBS (Figure 2).

Expenditure was distributed differently for each cardiovascular condition. In 2023–24:

• hospital services represented 75% of CHD expenditure, 62% of AF expenditure, and 92% of stroke expenditure
• non-hospital medical services represented 11% of CHD expenditure, 10% of AF expenditure, and 6% of stroke expenditure
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme costs represented 14% of CHD expenditure, 28% of AF expenditure, and 2.0% of stroke expenditure.

Who is it spent on?

Expenditure on CVD in 2023–24 was low among young people but increased sharply from age 45–54 to be highest among males aged 65–74 and females aged 75–84 (Figure 2).

From age 35–44, expenditure on CVD was higher among males than females, except at age 85 and over, reflecting the higher prevalence of CVD among males. At ages 45–54 to 65–74, expenditure for males was more than 1.5 times as high as for females.

Most of this difference was related to expenditure on hospital services, where a total of $7.6 billion was spent on males, compared with $4.9 billion on females, across all age groups.

Expenditure on non-hospital medical services (primary and referred care) was slightly higher among males ($1.21 billion, compared to $1.15 billion among females).

Expenditure in the area of prescription pharmaceuticals was higher among males ($1.1 billion) compared to females ($892.0 million). 

Reference 

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2025) Health system spending on disease and injury in Australia 2023–24, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 3 September 2025.