In addition to the high cost in human lives, CVD imposes a heavy economic burden as the number one cause of health care expenditures. A total of $178.2 billion annually is spent on direct costs for hospitals and nursing homes, physicians and other professionals, drugs, and home health and other medical durables, and the inclusion of indirect costs associated with lost productivity due to morbidity and mortality increases the total to $286.5 billion each year. Physician reimbursement and drug costs account for relatively small proportions of this total.

Reference:

American Heart Association. 1999 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. Dallas, Texas: American Heart Association, 1998.