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Published on: December 11, 2013
Peripheral arterial disease: the magnitude of the problem and its socioeconomic impact
Gregorio Brevetti1, Massimo Chiariello
1Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, University Federico II, Napoli, Italy. brevetti@unina.it
Insights
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) significantly impacts quality of life and incurs high healthcare costs. Early recognition and treatment of PAD can reduce societal and economic burdens, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Health Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent condition in adults.
- PAD complications significantly reduce quality of life and increase healthcare expenditures.
- Rising healthcare costs necessitate evaluating the cost-effectiveness of medical interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pharmacoeconomics of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- To analyze the economic burden of PAD on healthcare systems and society.
- To identify strategies for mitigating the costs associated with PAD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pharmacoeconomic studies related to PAD.
- Analysis of direct, indirect, and intangible costs of PAD.
- Synthesis of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment.
Main Results:
- Peripheral arterial disease imposes a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems and society.
- Indirect costs (lost productivity) and intangible costs (reduced quality of life) are significant components of the overall burden.
- Early detection and appropriate treatment of PAD can lead to cost savings.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral arterial disease represents a major public health and economic challenge.
- Pharmacoeconomic evaluation is crucial for optimizing PAD management strategies.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of PAD are cost-effective and improve patient well-being.
Abstract:
Peripheral arterial disease is a common disease in adults and its complications take a great toll in terms of quality of life and treatment costs. As healthcare budgets have taken up more of the economy, and as employers and patients have become concerned about the escalating costs of healthcare, we have entered an era in which individual doctors must become concerned about the costs of a service relative to its benefits. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the pharmacoeconomics of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for peripheral arterial disease. It emerges that peripheral arterial disease places a great burden on healthcare systems and on society as a whole. Some of these costs, including indirect and intangible costs (i.e. those related to lost productivity, and reduced quality of life, respectively) could be reduced if the condition were to be recognized and correctly treated at an early stage.
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