Heart disease is the most expensive illness in Australia

Heart disease is the most expensive illness in Australia

Cardiovascular disease affect millions of people in Australia. Recent data suggests that expenditure for treatment of cardiovascular diseases is the highest for any disease category in Australia, accounting for about $6 billion in 2004-05. The report, Health care expenditure on cardiovascular diseases 2004-05, which shows that expenditure is significantly higher for males (average of $321) than for females (average of $261), was released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

This is in accordance with the fact that risk for cardiovascular disorders is much higher among males than females.

For comparison, money spent on oral hygiene was $5.3 billion, mental health $4.1 billion and for musculoskeletal disorder $3.9 billion. The data also showed that expenditure on healthcare was much higher in people aged over 85 years.