Cost and Cost-Effectiveness in Acute Coronary Syndromes
Year: 2003
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: The high frequency and large amount of resources used in treating acute coronary syndromes (ACS) create a considerable economic burden. Coronary heart disease is the single largest cause of death in both men and women in industrialized societies, resulting in 459,841 deaths in the United States alone in 1998, which is one of every five deaths (1). An estimated 1,100,000 Americans a year will have a new or recurrent coronary attack (myocardial infarction or sudden death due to coronary disease). Within 6 yr of a myocardial infarction, 18% of men and 35% of women with have a recurrent heart attack, 7% of men and 6% of women will suffer sudden death, and 22% of men and 46% of women will be disabled with heart failure. While about two-thirds of patients after a myocardial infarction do not make a complete recovery, 88% of those under age 65 return to work. A total of 1,263,000 men and 915,000 women diagnosed with coronary heart disease were discharged from hospitals in 1998. Between 1979 and 1998, these discharges increased 24.6% for men and 26.4% for women. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of premature permanent disability in the U.S. labor force, accounting for 19% of disability allowances by the Social Security Administration. The total cost of coronary disease is estimated at $298.2 billion for 2001. Based on the a 6-mo cost of approx $20,000 from the Treat Angina with Aggrastat and Determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy—Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TACTIC S-TIMI) 18 trial, the costs of ACS in the United States is in excess of 20 billion dollars annually. However, this is an underestimate as there can be continuing induced costs, both direct and indirect, as patients become disabled and require more health care services over the ensuing months and years.
Source: Humana Press eBooks
Author: William S. Weintraub
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W935162857