health

Heart disease costs to triple by 2030

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 7, 2011

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Rising medical costs and the aging population will drive up the cost of treating heart disease by an estimated $545 billion to $818 billion within the next 20 years, according to the American Heart Assn.

Economic costs from lost productivity related to heart disease also are expected to increase from $172 billion in 2010 to $276 billion in 2030, the AHA said. About one in three Americans has some form of heart disease, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke. An estimated 116 million Americans, or 40.5% of the population, will have heart disease by 2030. Stroke and heart failure are expected to see the largest increases, both going up 25%, according to the Jan. 24 AHA policy statement.

"Unhealthy behaviors and unhealthy environments have contributed to a tidal wave of risk factors among many Americans," said AHA Chief Executive Officer Nancy Brown. "Early intervention and evidence-based public policies are absolute musts to significantly reduce alarming rates of obesity, hypertension, tobacco use and cholesterol levels."

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/02/07/hlbf0207.htm.

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