15 Feb Heart Disease Costs Expected To Top $1Trillion Per Year By 2035

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Olga Khavjou

Olga Khavjou
RTI International

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and is one of the costliest chronic diseases. As the population ages, CVD costs are expected to increase substantially. To improve cardiovascular health and control health care costs, we must understand future prevalence and costs of CVD.

In 2015, 41.5% (more than 100 million people) of the U.S population was estimated to have some form of CVD. By 2035, the number of people with CVD is projected to increase to over 130 million people, representing a 30% increase in the number of people with CVD over the next 20 years. Between 2015 and 2035, real total direct medical costs of CVD are projected to more than double from $318 billion to $749 billion and real indirect costs (due to productivity losses) are projected to increase from $237 billion to $368 billion. Total costs (medical and indirect) are projected to more than double from $555 billion in 2015 to $1.1 trillion in 2035.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: The economic burden of CVD is expected to increase significantly in the next 20 years. Our results show that the number of people with CVD will increase by 30% exceeding 130 million people in 2035 and the total costs of CVD will more than double reaching $1.1 trillion in 2035. The results also reveal significant disparities in the burden of CVD by age, race/ethnicity, and sex. Costs in the next 20 years are expected to more than triple among persons aged 80 years or older and among Hispanics.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Many of the CVD risk factors, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, diabetes, physical inactivity, and poor diet, are modifiable, which means that these factors can be controlled, prevented, or treated. Investments in prevention efforts aimed at improving these risk factors are likely to result in future cost savings, thus future research should focus on identifying promising interventions that would lead to significant improvements in cardiovascular health.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: The projections illustrate what is likely to happen to CVD prevalence and costs if no change to current policy is made and no further action is taken to reduce the disease and economic burden of CVD. These projections are a useful baseline against which to gauge the success of current and future CVD policy.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: A COSTLY BURDEN FOR AMERICA PROJECTIONS THROUGH 2035
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on February 15, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD