The Hospitalizations for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Conditions, Emergency Department Presentations and Economic Burden of Bushfires in Australia Between 2021 and 2030: A Modelling Study.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 7701802 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1535-6280 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01462806 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Curr Probl Cardiol Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: [Amsterdam] : Elsevier
      Original Publication: Chicago, Year Book Medical Publishers.
    • Subject Terms:
      Financial Stress* ; Cost of Illness*; Humans ; Australia/epidemiology ; Hospitalization ; Emergency Service, Hospital
    • Abstract:
      The health and environmental impacts of bushfires results in substantial economic costs to society. The present analysis sought to estimate the burden of bushfires in Australia over 10 years from 2021 to 2030 inclusive. A dynamic model with yearly cycles was constructed to simulate follow-up of the entire Australian population from 2021 to 2030, capturing deaths and years of life lived. Estimated numbers of bushfire-related-deaths, costs of related-hospitalizations, and broader economic costs were derived from published sources. A 5% annual discount rate was applied to all costs incurred and life years lived from 2022 onwards. Over the 10 years from 2021 to 2030, the modelled analysis predicted that 2418 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2412 - 2422] lives would be lost to bushfires, as well as 8590 [95% CI 8573 - 8606] years of life lost (discounted). Healthcare costs arising from deaths for smoke-related conditions, hospitalizations amounted to AUD $110 million [95% CI 91-129 million] (discounted). The impact on gross domestic product (GDP) totaled AUD $17.2 billion. A hypothetical intervention that reduces the impact of bushfires by 10% would save $11 million in healthcare costs and $1.9 billion in GDP. The health and economic burden of bushfires in Australia looms large during 2021 and 2030. This underscores the importance of actions to mitigate bushfire risk. The findings are useful for the future design and delivery and help policy makers to make informed decisions about investment in strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of future bushfires.
      (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20220924 Date Completed: 20221123 Latest Revision: 20221123
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101416
    • Accession Number:
      36152873