This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
ABC: Inflammatory bowel disease rates increasing in Australia, costing the economy billions
Author: Liana Walker
“Australians living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are calling for more support and research amid warnings the often stigmatising condition is costing the economy $7.8 billion a year.
The IBD State of the Nation report released this week reveals Australia is leading the western world in the growth rate of IBD, ahead of Canada, the UK and New Zealand.
The condition currently impacts almost 180,000 Australians, with that number expected to rise to 200,000 in the next 10 years.
Despite IBD patients visiting hospitals more than other comparable chronic health condition, it is the only illness where there has been no funding for patient support over the past 10 years. “
Inflammatory bowel disease rates increasing in Australia, costing the economy billions – ABC News
9News: Harrison is one of 180,000 Aussies losing $5900 every year to common illness
Author: Maddison Leach
“Harrison Kefford has had to change career paths just to keep up with the cost of a disease affecting 180,000 Australians.
The 30-year-old writer from Melbourne was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a type of incurable inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in his mid-20s and has been scraping to pay for private health insurance, specialist appointments and other medical fees ever since.
New research from Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) shows that Aussies with IBD spend an average of $5900 in out-of-pocket costs per year and in a cost of living crisis, Kefford can’t keep up on a writer’s income.”
Harrison is one of 180,000 Aussies losing $5900 every year to common illness
Pharmacy Daily: Pharmacists to play critical role in IBD
NEW research published in the State of the Nation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia report has found that 180,000 Australians are living with IBD, and that number is increasing at a faster rate than in other countries.
The report, from Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA), was launched in Canberra yesterday by Health Minister Mark Butler, and provides an in-depth assessment of Australians living with IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, highlighting potential risk factors as well as solutions for improving outcomes.
Clinical pharmacist and AdPha member Sheridan Rodda was a member of the advisory committee overseeing the project, and told Pharmacy Daily that pharmacists have a critical role to play.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more Australians impacted by the debilitating symptoms of IBD,” Rodda said.
Pharmacists to play critical role in IBD | Pharmacy Daily
The Newcastle Herald: ‘It’s incurable’: rising numbers of debilitating disease sparks concern
Author: Damon Cronshaw
CHLOE Sargent went through a period of grief after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2010. Ms Sargent, of Thornton, has since been through
about 20 surgeries, including one three months ago. She’s among about 9230 people in Hunter New England and Central Coast who live with inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. “It is a matter of learning to live with it. It’s incurable. The biggest challenge is the effect on your mental health,” Ms Sargent, 31, said.
Living with Crohn’s: Chloe Sargent’s journey with IBD amid report | Newcastle Herald | Newcastle, NSW (Paywall)
The Australian – This ‘below the button’ disease is hitting too many Australians. Why is no one talking about it?
Author: Fiona Harari
“About 180,000 Australians live with this painful, lifelong condition involving inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. But as cases grow globally, Australia leads the pack.
The State of the Nation report into IBD in Australia, which is being released on Tuesday by federal Health Minister Mark Butler, says that while cases are growing globally, “Australia is leading the pack”.
Prevalence is expected to increase by 238 per cent between 2010 and 2030 – the highest growth rate among Western countries. Current case numbers already far exceed more high-profile conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Yet IBD “increasingly lacks any real policy focus by governments today and is at risk of falling through the cracks”, according to the report.”
Inflammatory bowel disease on the rise in Australia because of ultra-processed food | The Australian (paywall)
Various News Corp publications:
Author: Tayla Couacaud
“Queensland has the third highest prevalence of a debilitating bowel disease that impacts 180,000 Australians, costing sufferers thousands of dollars in medical expenses.
The State of the Nation report into Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has revealed ultra-processed food is contributing to a significant rise in the disease which was released on Tuesday by federal Health Minister Mark Butler.
The incidences of IBD are rising globally, and Australia is leading the pack – with cases set to rise by 238 per cent between 2010 and 2030 – with Queensland seeing the third highest prevalence rate in the country.
The painful, lifelong condition involving inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is projected to disproportionately impact Australia’s working population, with the peak age of onset occurring between 15 to 29 years.”
Read the full article (paywall)
Illawara Mercury: ‘Like having food poisoning 24/7’: Concern over rising rate of bowel disease
Author: Kate McIlwain
Kiama Nurse Sam Abarca counts herself lucky she was diagnosed “quite quickly” with the chronic bowel disease that made her feel like she had constant food poisoning.
As a health professional working in the Wollongong Hospital ward that looks after bowel surgeries, and with knowledge about Crohn’s disease due to a family member’s experience, she knew to keep pushing to get an answer about her concerning symptoms.
But still she was sent way by doctors and waited several months to get a diagnosis before being diagnosed 10 years ago.
Read the full article (paywall)
The Limbic: ‘Urgent action required to face increasing IBD burden’: report
Author: Siobhan Calafiore
Almost 180,000 Australians are living with inflammatory bowel disease today and many are “frequent flyers” of ED services, but funding for research and patient support lags behind other chronic conditions, new figures suggest.
The IBD State of the Nation report released by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia [link here] shows the condition impacts 179,420 Australians, with over 91,000 experiencing active disease. Prevalence was predicted to rise to 200,000 in the next 10 years, with the growth expected to outpace that of Canada, the UK and New Zealand.
The report stated that patients with IBD were among the most frequent users of the hospital system, often facing prolonged delays in diagnosis. More than one in three patients had symptoms for over a year before diagnosis, with about one in 10 experiencing symptoms for more than five years.