Almost 5.5 million Australians will be living with arthritis by 2040, placing a $11.9 billion strain on the health system and impacting national productivity.
A new modelling report from Monash University found that the number of people living with arthritis in Australia was projected to increase by a third over the next 15 years.
Professor Ilana Ackerman said the modelling suggested about 5.4 million Australians would have arthritis in 2040, 1.3 million more than the estimated number of cases for 2025.
Professor Ackerman said spending on osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, was forecast to exceed $11.9 billion by 2040.
She said this was based on current spending levels continuing, which was estimated at $2100 per person with osteoarthritis and $1918 per person with rheumatoid arthritis each year.
“Arthritis is a common condition that affects the joints, causing pain and impacting function in all areas of life.
“Arthritis doesn’t just affect older people – it affects babies, children, adolescents, as well as adults of all ages.”
Professor Ackerman said as the Australian population grew there would be more people of working age living with arthritis.
“This has the potential to significantly impact productivity at a national level.
“Arthritis can affect people’s ability to undertake their work tasks and their ability to participate in the workforce.”
She said investment was needed in effective prevention and high value care that could improve outcomes for people living with arthritis.
“For osteoarthritis, the best advice is to prevent joint injuries, maintain a healthy weight where possible, and to keep strong and physically active.”
Professor Ackerman said people living outside of metropolitan areas faced greater challenges in accessing arthritis care, particularly specialist care including paediatric rheumatology for children living with juvenile arthritis.
“It’s critical that people living in regional and rural areas can receive a diagnosis and the treatment they need in a timely manner.”
Access the full report: The projected burden of arthritis among adults and children in Australia to the year 2040: a population-level forecasting study.
