Chennai: A recent report titled “The Cost of Silence: Cardiovascular disease in Asia”, estimates that Rs 5,300 crores of the total costs of primary ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke are attributable to four modifiable risk factors: Smoking, hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol in eight Asian countries. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and healthcare company, the Amgen, released the report on the economic impact of these diseases.
Medicos say that the risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are more elevated among older populations, thus, countries with aging demographics face even greater challenges.
The economic burdens of these conditions are rising dramatically, with Asian heart failure patients spending between 5 and 12.5 days in hospital, with 3 percent to 15 percent readmitted within 30 days.
The report said that early retirement and disability caused by CVD would put pressure on national budgets with hypertension contributing the highest cost of around Rs 1,800 crore yearly and cholesterol costing Rs 1,500 crore.
The report also found a lack of awareness among Asian populations of the risks and symptoms of CVD, an issue that has serious health and economic consequences. The danger from lack of awareness and poor information can lead patients to make bad decisions, such as discontinuing treatments.
The biggest challenge with the silent risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, obesity and high cholesterol is that individuals are often unaware of their underlying risks until symptoms become more pronounced, and the illnesses more advanced. Prioritising at-risk groups, where the cost for treatment can be significant, will help drive positive impact on CVD cost management.
“The Asia-Pacific is facing a cardiovascular crisis on an immense scale. All governments need to do much more to prevent and control CVD, starting with national action plans as a key part of a comprehensive response to tacklenon-communicable diseases. Modifiable risk factors including smoking, phys cal inactivity and obesity need to be aggressively addressed said Rohan Greenland, President of the Asia Pacific Heart Network.
