Preventable burden of mito

Primary mitochondrial disease (‘mito’) is debilitating and potentially fatal, reducing the ability of the mitochondria to produce energy to sustain life. Around 1 in every 200 Australians have mitochondrial genetic mutations. Some of those with symptoms are undiagnosed, and unaware of how to manage their care. Around 1 in every 4300 Australians develop clinically overt disease, which dramatically changes their lives, and those around them, forever.

The Mito Foundation commissioned the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to provide economic evidence about the preventable burden of mito disease in Australia to help understand the greatest challenges faced by people with mito, and the opportunities to intervene to make peoples’ lives better.

The CIE estimated that Mito costs Australia over $1 billion each year. The biggest cost of mito is the lost quality of life from premature death or living with pain and disability, accounting for 80 per cent of total costs.

Overview of the population, burden, and costs of mito in Australia

Australia has recently made significant changes that will combat some of the costs of mito, however, more needs to be done for people with mito to reduce the burden and costs of the disease.