Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases in Belgium: A Cost-of-illness Analysis

• Published in: Cardiovascular drugs and therapy 2008-12, Vol.22 (6), p.487-494
• Main Authors: Vlayen, Joan, De Backer, Guy, Peers, Jan, Moldenaers, Ingrid, Debruyne, Hans, Simoens, Steven
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atherosclerosis - diagnosis; Atherosclerosis - drug therapy; Atherosclerosis - economics; Atherosclerosis - prevention & control; Belgium; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cerebrovascular Disorders - diagnosis; Cerebrovascular Disorders - economics; Cerebrovascular Disorders - prevention & control; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - economics; Coronary Artery Disease - prevention & control; Cost of Illness; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Financing, Personal - economics; Financing, Personal - statistics & numerical data; Health Care Costs; Humans; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement - classification; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement - economics; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - diagnosis; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - economics; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - prevention & control; Prevalence; Preventive Health Services - economics; Preventive Health Services - statistics & numerical data; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0920-3206; 1573-7241
• DOI: 10.1007/s10557-008-6128-5

Purpose This study aims to quantify costs of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in Belgium in 2004. Methods Costs were estimated using data on prevalence, healthcare resource utilization and unit costs. Healthcare costs included expenditure on ambulatory care, hospital inpatient care, emergency care, and medications. Costs of prevention campaigns and costs of productivity loss were also included. Results Costs amounted to 3.5 billion € in Belgium in 2004. Total costs consisted of 80 million € related to prevention and screening, 1.3 billion € related to pre-clinical disease, and 2.2 billion € related to established disease. These costs were incurred by the Belgian third-party payer (58% of costs), patients (10%) and third parties (i.e. employers and supplementary health insurance) (32%). Conclusions Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases impose a significant economic burden on Belgian society.