The soaring cost of stroke treatment

Treatment costs in America may double by 2030

We're getting older as a nation and that's costing money -- lots of it

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, the cost of treating stroke could more than double in 2030 as the number of people having strokes increases by 20%.

The association, in a statement published in Stroke, an American Heart Association journal, cites the aging U.S. population as the main reason for the increases. It also projects that by 2030:

  • Almost 4% of U.S. adults -- nearly one in 25 -- will have a stroke. This translates into an additional 3.4 million people with stroke in 2030.
  • Costs to treat stroke may increase from $71.55 billion in 2010 to $183.13 billion.
  • Annual costs due to lost productivity could rise from $33.65 billion to $56.54 billion.
  • People currently 45-64 years old are expected to have the highest increase in stroke at 5.1%.
  • Stroke prevalence is projected to increase the most among Hispanic men between now and 2030, and the cost of treating stroke in Hispanic women is expected to triple.

"Strokes will absolutely strain the healthcare system," said Bruce Ovbiagele, M.D., M.Sc., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.

Post-stroke care

Caring for survivors is expensive because stroke can cause long-term disability, he said.

"Ninety% of stroke patients have residual disability and only 10% recover completely after a stroke," Ovbiagele said. "Policy makers at all levels of governance should be aware of this looming crisis so that we can consider practical ways to avert it."

Stroke, the fourth leading cause of death and one of the top causes of preventable disability in the United States, occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or a bleeding vessel. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells die.

"Getting patients specialized acute stroke care as soon as possible is critical," Ovbiagele said. "During every minute of delayed treatment, brain cells are dying. EMS systems nationwide should take patients directly to a designated stroke center equipped to quickly diagnose and administer drugs to restore blood flow to the brain."

High incidence of stroke

Hispanics and blacks have a higher rate of stroke and worse outcomes, and individuals without insurance have a 24% to 56% higher risk of death from stroke than those with insurance coverage, the statement said.

Stroke rates are particularly high among people 45-64, who are too young to receive Medicare, less able to afford medications and more likely to have diabetes and obesity, compared to older stroke survivors, Ovbiagele said.

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is expected to expand insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans and to increase emphasis on prevention and wellness, according to the association.

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