Economic Impact of Cardiovascular Disease in Canada

Overview of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in many developed nations. Despite a downward trend in its prevalence over the years, CVD continues to impose a substantial economic burden. In Canada, the direct health costs associated with cardiovascular diseases have reached nearly C$12 billion, largely due to hospitalizations related to heart attacks and heart failures.

Prevention vs. Treatment

Various prevention strategies have been developed to diminish the incidence of cardiovascular disease, ultimately aiming to alleviate its economic impact. The World Health Organization has established a target to reduce global chronic disease mortality, including CVD, by 25% by 2025. This goal highlights the importance for governments to evaluate the potential economic benefits of such reductions, enabling informed decisions regarding patient care while minimizing healthcare expenses.

Research Study in Quebec

In light of these considerations, researchers from Quebec, Canada, utilized computer models to project healthcare costs and usage related to cardiovascular disease by the year 2050. Their findings, published in PLOS ONE, involved analysis of surveys and administrative data concerning hospital stays and physician fees. They explored two scenarios: a “treatment” scenario focused on mortality reduction and a “prevention” scenario concentrating on incidence reduction. The study aimed to determine:

– Savings in healthcare costs linked to physician visits and hospital stays
– Increases in life expectancy and years of life saved
– Financial benefits from healthcare cost reductions and life expectancy improvements by 2050

Both scenarios were aligned with the WHO’s 2025 target of a 25% reduction in chronic disease mortality.

Findings on Mortality and Cost Savings

The researchers anticipated an increase in the percentage of individuals aged 30 and older suffering from cardiovascular disease. Specifically, hypertension is projected to rise from 29% in 2012 to 41% in 2050, while heart disease is expected to grow from 7.6% to 9.5% in the same timeframe. This increase will result in higher hospitalization and consultation costs. The incidence-based scenario is expected to mitigate this cost rise, whereas the mortality-based scenario will exacerbate it.

In terms of life expectancy, the mortality-based scenario predicts an additional 0.3 years for Quebec residents aged 65, yielding a total of 753,300 years of life saved. Conversely, the incidence-based scenario indicates a slower pace, with 433,200 years of life saved by 2050. Monetarily, the projected savings amount to C$69.6 billion under the mortality-based scenario, compared to C$38.2 billion for the incidence-based scenario.

Conclusion

The research suggests that directly addressing cardiovascular disease mortality could generate greater cost savings than focusing solely on incidence reduction. Nevertheless, a dual approach that targets both mortality and incidence is likely to yield more significant financial benefits for the Quebec government. Thus, there is a pressing need for enhanced prevention strategies and renewed efforts in treating both new and existing cases of cardiovascular disease to achieve economic stability.

Written by Asongna T. Folefoc
Reference: Boisclair D, Décarie Y, Laliberté-Auger F, Michaud P-C, Vincent C (2018) The economic benefits of reducing cardiovascular disease mortality in Quebec, Canada. PLoS ONE 13(1): e0190538. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190538