Ageing population will raise musculoskeletal burden

More older people means more arthritis, osteoporosis and bad backs — and more health spending.

Spending on arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions is growing and is likely to continue to do so as the population ages.

A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that the cost of musculoskeletal conditions increased by more than five per cent each year from 2000-01 to 2004-05.

In 2004-05 these conditions accounted for more spending on doctors and specialists than any other disease group, with a cost of close to $1.2 billion.

Overall musculoskeletal conditions were the fourth largest contributor to direct health expenditure with $4 billion poured into arthritis, osteoporosis and bad backs.

“Because these conditions are more common in older people, an increasingly ageing population is likely to further add to the associated disease burden and the cost of providing health services in Australia,” said Tracy Dixon from the AIHW’s National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions.

Osteoarthritis is a common condition among older Australians and in 2004-05 it was the costliest musculoskeletal condition in Australia.

The National Health Survey in 2004-05 found that more than half of the people who had osteoarthritis were between the ages of 55 and 74.

In 2004-05 an average of $277 was spent on osteoarthritis for every person aged between 65 and 74 and that figure rose to $326 for people aged between 75 and 84.

More than half of the cost of rheumatoid arthritis came from prescription pharmaceuticals and medicines accounted for nearly three quarters of the expenditure on osteoporosis.

The amount of money spent on prescription drugs for osteoporosis soared from $75.5 million in 2000-01 to $215 million in 2004-05.

Tags: ageing-population, arthritis, cost, health-expenditure, osteoporosis,

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