The Many Costs of an Unhealthy Heart

Heart disease and stroke are among the most widespread and costly conditions affecting our nation today. In 2016 cardiovascular disease costed the U.S. economy a staggering $555 billion. By 2035, the economic burden associated with cardiovascular disease management is projected to reach $1.1 trillion*. Atrial Fibrillation, the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, represented a $37 billion healthcare crisis in 2020. By 2035, the cost of Afib alone could exceed $55 billion— representing an estimated 300% increase in Afib patient cases in the U.S.*

In a study published by the American Heart Association, Afib patients incurred medical costs $8,705 higher annually than people without Afib. Additionally, direct costs attributable to Afib were over 7% of costs for all other forms of cardiovascular disease.*

What can we do to solve this bank-breaking crisis? Early detection is an excellent first step. Patients can significantly decrease the risk of living with asymptomatic Afib by visiting a doctor regularly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and staying vigilant about heart health. To learn more about the importance of early Afib detection and intervention, check out the StopAfib.Org—sponsored awareness campaign: No Time To Wait.

For patients who have already been diagnosed with Afib, early intervention can make all the difference between restoring health and living with a serious, highly progressive condition. Minimally invasive catheter ablation procedure remains an effective method to correct irregular heartbeat conditions, including Afib. Catheter ablation technology has evolved significantly since its initial introduction in the 1990s. Over the years, it gradually became the preferred treatment for Afib patients and providers because it can address the underlying arrhythmia and restore a healthy heart rhythm, which isn’t always the case with pharmacological alternatives. Several studies, such as those published by VANISH and Mark E. Josephson et al. have demonstrated the long-term cost benefits of catheter ablation as well as its acceptance as the most effective therapy option for Afib and other types of arrhythmia. Additionally, in another recent study conducted by the Heart Rhythm Society, catheter ablation patients reported significantly greater improvements in quality of life.*

The goal in responding to the often-life-threatening Afib should be to permanently terminate the arrhythmia. While medications that can help patients to manage this condition may be beneficial in the short-term or less severe cases, ablation offers the best option for patients that want to end the physical and economic burden of Afib for good. 

Our company has witnessed the profound, long-term benefits of catheter ablation by working with the leading medical centers of excellence. Our decade-long exposure to cardiac electrophysiology and the first-hand knowledge of the continuing unmet needs in this critical field has inspired our PURE EP™ System. Our advanced technology was designed to reveal the full range of cardiac signal data with precise, unaltered clarity to empower physicians to make more informed decisions.

Although you cannot put a price on a healthy heartbeat, I am confident that the economic burden of Afib, like the weight of an irregular cardiac rhythm, can be lifted as catheter ablation continues to advance as a critical therapy.  

Happy Heart Month to all!

Sincerely,
Ken Londoner
Co-Founder, Chairman, & CEO
BioSig Technologies, Inc.

Sources:

  1. https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heartpublic/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_491543.pdf
  2. https://www.afibsurgeons.org/why-treat-afib/health-medical-economic-burden/
  3. https://www.cureus.com/articles/48381-newer-diagnostic-and-cost-effective-ways-to-identify-asymptomatic-atrial-fibrillation-for-the-prevention-of-stroke
  4. https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/3226/costs-of-living-with-atrial-fibrillation/
  5. https://www.heartrhythmopen.com/article/S2666-5018(20)30192-6/fulltext
  6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18362249/
  7. https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(17)31202-X/fulltext
  8. https://research.alpha-sense.com/document-viewer/b19d3a095db45c3d48866eabbd92dd0bd738dcfe/index.html
  9. https://www.hrsonline.org/news/press-releases/catheter-ablation-cost-effective-treatment

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