Most of this growth occurred between 1997 and 2003; since 2003, annual growth in costs for these conditions has slowed to less than 2 percent.
The analysis by AHRQ was based on data from the 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, with the cost figures adjusted for inflation. Here is a breakdown of how much U.S. hospital costs increased between 1997 and 2006 for the following cardiovascular treatments:
- Hospital treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (hardening of the arteries) increased from $14.5 billion in 1997 to $17.5 billion in 2006 — a 2.1 percent annual increase.
- Costs for treating patients with heart attacks increased from $9 billion to $11.8 billion — a 3 percent annual increase.
- Costs for treating patients with congestive heart failure increased from $6.6 billion to $11.2 billion — a 6.1 percent annual increase.
- Costs for treating patients with irregular heart beats increased from $3.5 billion to $6.8 billion — a 7.7 percent annual increase.
- Costs for treating patients with stroke increased from $5.3 billion to $6.7 billion — a 2.6 percent annual increase.
- Costs for treating patients with chest pain with no determined cause increased from $1.6 billion to $3.9 billion — a 10 percent annual increase.
Read the AHRQ’s press release about rising cardiovascular hospital costs.
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