Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in Belgium: a cost-of-illness analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) represent a major global health challenge.
• Understanding the economic burden of ASCVD is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the total economic costs associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in Belgium during the year 2004.
• To delineate costs across different stages of disease and by payer.

Main Methods:

• Cost estimation utilized data on ASCVD prevalence, healthcare resource utilization, and associated unit costs.
• Healthcare expenditures encompassed ambulatory care, hospital inpatient care, emergency services, and pharmaceuticals.
• Included were costs for prevention campaigns and indirect costs due to productivity loss.

Main Results:

• The total economic cost of ASCVD in Belgium in 2004 was estimated at 3.5 billion euros.
• Costs comprised 80 million euros for prevention and screening, 1.3 billion euros for pre-clinical disease, and 2.2 billion euros for established disease.
• The Belgian third-party payer covered 58% of costs, patients 10%, and third parties (employers, supplementary insurance) 32%.

Conclusions:

• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases impose a substantial economic burden on Belgian society.
• The findings highlight the significant financial implications of ASCVD, necessitating targeted interventions and resource management.