ASCIA Allergy and Immune Diseases in Australia (AIDA) Report

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) is aiming to have allergy and immune diseases recognised as one of the seven most important and prioritised chronic disease groups and a National Health Priority Area in Australia.

Allergy and immune diseases are among the fastest growing chronic conditions in Australia. Almost 1 in 5 Australians has an allergic disease and this is increasing. The prevalence of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) is estimated to be 1 in 1200. Autoimmune diseases currently affect 5% of Australians.

These diseases impact significantly on the quality of life of those who have the condition as well as those who care for them. 

Allergy and immune diseases have a significant cost to the individual and the community:

• In 2005, the total financial cost of allergic diseases alone was estimated to be approximately AU$30 billion (ASCIA Access Economic Report 2007), comprising $1.1 billion in direct health system expenditure, $7.1 billion due to lost productivity and $21.3 billion due to lost wellbeing (disability and premature death).
• In per capita terms, this amounts to a total cost of approximately $7,400 per person with allergies per annum

The solutions are wide ranging across primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies. Ultimately, however, the true immediate need is for government to become aware of the vastness of this issue as a public health concern, its overall financial burden and the issue of addressing these solutions as a high priority. 

Development of the ASCIA AIDA Report included extensive consultation with medical and patient support organisations across Australia. These organisations share a common goal with ASCIA, which is the improvement of patient care and quality of life.

Further information

For further information go to the AIDA Report on the ASCIA website:
www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports