Background The present study aimed to predict the expected number of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) in Austria up to the year 2080. Methods Demographic data and population projections between... Show moreBackground The present study aimed to predict the expected number of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) in Austria up to the year 2080. Methods Demographic data and population projections between 2019 and 2080 were obtained from European authorities. Information about recent age- and sex-stratified prevalence of patients with self-reported physician-diagnosed OA was obtained from the Austrian Health Interview Survey (n = 15,771). Projections were stratified by age and sex; sensitivity analyses were performed based on aging, main (most likely), and growth scenarios of the population. Results Based on the projection, the overall increase in the total number of patients with OA from 2019 to 2080 will be 38% for men and women. In 2019, the highest number of OA-patients nested in the groups of persons aged 70-79 (n = 238,749) and 60-69 (n = 237,729) years. In 2080, the 80+ age group is predicted to have the highest number of OA with 421,548 individuals (i.e. factor 3.45 and factor 2.48 increase in the male and female group, respectively, compared to 2019), followed by the group aged 70-79 with 314,617 individuals (factor 1.45 and factor 1.28 increase in the male and female group, respectively, compared to 2019). Similar trends were found in the ageing and growing scenarios. Conclusions The projected increase in the occurrence of OA will likely lead to a substantial socioeconomic burden for the Austrian healthcare system in the near and far future. The current findings plead for the development of sustainable concepts for the treatment and prevention of OA by European authorities. Show less
Brakema, E.A.; Tabyshova, A.; Kleij, R.M.J.J. van der; Sooronbaev, T.; Lionis, C.; Anastasaki, M.; ... ; FRESH AIR Collaborators 2019
Population ageing affects health care expenditure (HCE) through a myriad of dynamics which can be categorized in three major components: rising life expectancy a higher share of older people, and... Show morePopulation ageing affects health care expenditure (HCE) through a myriad of dynamics which can be categorized in three major components: rising life expectancy a higher share of older people, and increasing mortality rates in combination with high "costs of dying". By disentangling these dynamics, and relating the insights presented in this thesis on the determinants of old age mortality, HCE, and the costs of dying, we have shown that the effect of population ageing on HCE may be curtailed by different trends. Specific insights from this thesis are summarized below: - Counter-intuitively, the mortality risk of older people increases during times of economic growth. - The mortality risk and level of HCE of older people is markedly higher in the autumn and winter than in the spring and summer. - A transitional care programme improved the health outcomes of frail older people. - After the death of the spouse, HCE of older people increases with around 50%. This is probably mainly related to the loss of an informal care-giver, and not bereavement. - There is not much variation in the "costs of dying" amongst older people. Variation that exists can be mostly explained by age and preceding level of HCE. Show less
Heidbuchel, H.; Hindricks, G.; Broadhurst, P.; Erven, L. van; Fernandez-Lozano, I.; Rivero-Ayerza, M.; ... ; Annemans, L. 2015
