Endometriosis poses substantial burden on Aust health system
Researchers at The University of Queensland (UQ) say they have conducted the first longitudinal study on the impact of endometriosis on Australia’s healthcare system, finding the disease is a significant cause of hospitalisation.
Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, depression, anxiety and bowel problems.
“Endometriosis affects around one in seven Australian women by age 44 to 49,” said Dr Dereje Gete, from UQ’s School of Public Health.
“It can significantly reduce a woman’s quality of life through severe pelvic pain, infertility issues, irritable bowel syndrome or mental health issues.”
Gete led a team that analysed the association between endometriosis and hospitalisation rates, using the linked health data of more than 13,500 women — via the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health survey — over a 27-year period up until 2022. He said that women with endometriosis were hospitalised more often than those without the condition.
“Once women with endometriosis were diagnosed, they had more hospitalisations and longer stays compared to before their diagnosis,” he said.
“This indicates recurrence of the condition, even after surgical intervention, posing significant challenges for long-term management.”
Senior study author Professor Gita Mishra said the research, which was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, aids understanding of how a diagnosis of endometriosis influences subsequent healthcare use.
“It highlights the substantial burden of this chronic condition on both patients and the health system, with frequent hospital admissions and prolonged stays,” Mishra said.
“More research is needed to develop targeted interventions.”
The news comes shortly after Perth-based medtech Proteomics International announced the development of a novel blood test to diagnose endometriosis, which should be more cost-effective for the health system than the current use of ultrasounds, laparoscopies, MRIs and biopsies.
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