Economic burden of cardiovascular diseases in China

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become the principle cause of death and disability among the middle-aged and elderly both in urban and rural areas of China. The objective of this study is to estimate the direct costs of CVD in China. Direct costs were estimated for the Chinese population with CVD in 2003 by sex, age, geography, type of medical condition and medical insurance, and then calculated based on the 2003 National Health Services Survey. The annual average direct medical cost and direct nonmedical cost were 4238.3 Yuan (US$529.8) and 153.9 Yuan (US$19.2) in urban areas, 2302.5 Yuan (US$278.1) and 416.4 Yuan (US$50.3) in rural areas, respectively. On average, only 23.9% of outpatient costs and 35.2% in-patient costs could be paid by various kinds of medical insurance. This disease burden led to 209.0 billion Yuan (US$26.1 billion) in direct costs in 2003. The strong positive association between CVD, and the economic burden to families and society, demonstrates the need for greater investment to prevent CVD in China.