The Economic and Societal Impact of Cardiovascular Disease
In 2015, 17.7 million people died from cardiovascular diseases worldwide1. This number is projected to rise to 22 million by the year 20302. Coupled with an aging population, the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is putting pressure and additional costs on healthcare systems and businesses worldwide.
The cost of treating cardiovascular disease
Expenditure on health and prevention should not be seen as a one-time expense, but as an investment towards increased welfare, productivity and economic growth. An aging population is not the sole contributing factor to increased levels of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions. Other risk factors include a lack of physical exercise, poor diet, and tobacco use3. The costs involved in treating patients for heart attack or stroke are substantial: in the EU, the annual cost of cardiovascular conditions is estimated at €210 billion per year. Of this total cost, around 53% (€111 billion) is due to health care costs and 26% (€54 billion) due to productivity losses. The remaining 21% (€45 billion) is made up of costs arising from time and effort given by informal caregivers such as family members of patients with cardiovascular diseases4.
The bulk of the costs can be attributed to failing to recover from cardiovascular episodes, leading to: loss of money through premature death or due to decreased productivity. The cost in lost productivity is high – patients require time off work to recover from surgery or illness. This results in a diminished income for the patient as well as reduced productivity for employers, leading to overall economic losses.
In order to tackle the impact of such diseases, it is imperative that governments take a holistic view of healthcare, taking into account the costs ascribed to hospitalization and diagnosis.
The value in preventing cardiovascular disease
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Spending geared towards health and prevention should not be seen as simply one cost at a specific point in time, but as an investment towards increased welfare, productivity and economic growth. If we look at the United States, for example, the American Heart Association conducted a study5 in 2011 that showed prevention strategies could be cost effective in the long run. For example: community-based programs promoting physical exercise, a balanced diet, and cessation of smoking and tobacco use carry a return-on-investment of $5.60 for every dollar spent over five years6. Prevention saves on costs but could also save lives.
