Cost of disease
A single disease can have a devastating effect not only on the life of an individual or a community, but on a nation's economy.
For example, between 1965 and 1990, the GDP per capita of malaria-free countries was 38% higher than that of similar-sized countries where malaria was prevalent.(1)
The economic burden of uncontrolled hypertension is also huge. In 2006, the American Heart Association estimated that the direct and indirect costs of uncontrolled hypertension totaled USD 264 billion in the United States alone.(2)
Treating patients, creating value
Pharmaceuticals can lessen the need for more costly health services such as hospital and nursing care.(3) Over the past 40 years, the use of medicines has helped reduce the number of hospital admissions for twelve major diseases by 50%.(4)
A study commissioned by Novartis on the socioeconomic value of hypertensive medicines found that almost 16.7 million people around the world still die of cardiovascular disease each year, accounting for 29% of all deaths globally.(5)
The study also found that in 2001 alone, antihypertensive therapy would have prevented an estimated 86 000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in the US - about twice the number of people who died in automobile accidents that year - and more than 800 000 hospitalizations for stroke and heart attacks.
Moreover, antihypertensive therapy was shown to be highly cost effective, creating USD 10 in value for each dollar spent for American women and a payback of USD 6 per dollar spent for treatment of American men with high blood pressure.
Value of hypertension medications at a glance
- By the middle of the 20th century, cardiovascular disease was the leading killer in the developed world.
- As the 20th century progressed, deaths and illnesses due to cardiovascular disease decreased. This change could be attributed to better diagnosis, medical advances, new medications, and lifestyle changes including healthier diets, increased exercise, and less smoking.
- Despite this progress, almost 17 million people around the world still die of cardiovascular disease each year, accounting for 29% of all deaths globally.
- Many of the causes of heart-related disability and death – stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and end-stage renal disease – are linked by a common cause: high blood pressure (hypertension).
- About 1 in 3 adults in the US have hypertension. Prevalence is even higher in Europe.
- Because hypertension produces no symptoms, about one third of people with hypertension do not know they have it.
- Without the benefits of antihypertensive drugs, 86 000 more people would have died prematurely due to cardiovascular disease in 2001; and more than 800 000 additional people would have been hospitalized for stroke and myocardial infarction in 2002. The resulting cost-benefit ratio of hypertensive therapy is 1:10 for men and 1:6 for women.
- Although the benefits of antihypertensive therapy are substantial, major opportunities remain. If all people suffering from hypertension who are not currently treated were prescribed medication, an additional 89 000 would avoid premature death due to cardiovascular disease, and an additional 420 000 people would avoid being hospitalized for stroke or myocardial infarctions as compared with 2002 levels.
Extract from The socioeconomic value of antihypertensive medicines, Novartis, 2006
Value beyond medicine
Our commitment to patients extends beyond the therapies we produce. Our BP Success Zone was created to educate people about high blood pressure and provide a comprehensive program that includes medication, information, education, action plans, and tools to help people reach their blood pressure goals, as set by their healthcare professionals.
We believe that helping people achieve safe blood pressure levels through programs such as our BP Success Zone has tremendous value to patients, their families, and society.
1 Gallup, John L. and Jeffrey D. Sachs, ‘The Burden of Malaria,’ Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001 Jan-Feb; 64(1-2 Suppl):85-96
2 Thom T, Haase N, Rosamond W, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics – 2006 update
3 PHRMA
4 EFPIA
5 AHA International Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2006
The heart of the matter
With almost 17 million people worldwide dying of heart-related illnesses each year and millions more disabled, Novartis takes matters of the heart very seriously.
