Breathlessness Costs Australian Economy 270 Billion Baht

Sydney—A study published on Monday (September 16) revealed that breathlessness is causing a significant annual economic loss in Australia, due to lost productivity and direct healthcare costs.

The research by the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney found that dyspnoea—shortness of breath not related to strenuous exercise—results in economic losses of AUD 12.2 billion (approximately 270 billion baht) every year.

The study, which surveyed more than 10,000 Australians, found that 10% of adults suffer from breathlessness, with 73.7% of them being under 65 years old. Individuals with this condition are more likely to be unemployed and experience a lower quality of life.

Breathlessness affects people with conditions such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and heart disease, as well as those without any formal diagnosis.

Anthony Sunjaya, an expert from the institute and the University of New South Wales, stated that while many studies have examined the impact of well-known diseases such as COPD or lung cancer on quality of life and employment, no studies have examined the broader economic and social costs of breathlessness in the general population, including those without other diseases.

The report highlighted that of the total AUD 11.1 billion (around 247 billion baht) in annual economic losses due to breathlessness, most is due to healthcare costs. People experiencing breathlessness are twice as likely to require urgent visits to general practitioners (GPs) each year.

The report also warned that the prevalence of breathlessness in Australia is likely to increase due to factors such as obesity, air pollution, and climate-related events like wildfires and dust storms.

Source: Xinhua Thai