Projected increase in heart disease is expected to triple costs

Let’s get to the heart of the matter. The landscape of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States is setting the stage for a near-perfect storm that could not only significantly affect the health of Americans but could leave a dire economic path of destruction for employers and for health care.

As reported in two new American Heart Association (AHA) presidential advisories, more than 184 million people or 61% of the population, are expected to have a type of CVD by 2050. This projection is driven by a mix of an older, more diverse population and a significant increase in high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Currently, CVD can cost employers billions of dollars each year in medical costs and lost productivity. By 2050, the anticipated increase in CVD is expected to triple costs, having a $1.8 trillion price tag in total costs, greatly impacting health care costs and employers’ bottom lines.

Despite this anticipated health and economic doom and gloom, the report projects a bright spot: people will make healthier choices over the next 30 years. Cigarette smoking rates are expected to decrease nearly by half, from 15.8% to 8.4%. In addition, physical inactivity rates are predicted to drop from 33.5% to 24.2%.

Yet, despite these wins, the combination of increasing obesity and high blood pressure with a longer-living population and challenges from health disparities will threaten progress. In addition, the advisories find a disturbing trend that CVD will affect future younger populations as well.

Changing the course

Employers can play a key role in helping their employees manage cardiovascular health through workplace initiatives. By doing so, employers can encourage a change in their employee’s health outcomes. This in turn will have a positive impact on health care expenses. Yet, this will require dedication and involvement by both employers and employees.

Some ways employers can support the future heart health of their employees include:

• Chronic Care Support

Many employee-based health plans offer Chronic Care Management programs (CCM). Through educational services, CCMs can help manage employees’ chronic conditions, such as CVD, more effectively, improve medication management and communication among treating clinicians, to help control costs. These programs improve the safety and quality of care and patient self-management and are very effective for employees with CVD, especially for patients with multiple conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which are present with many people who suffer from CVD.

• Remote Monitoring for High Blood Pressure

Many with CVD also suffer from uncontrolled high blood pressure. Having a remote monitoring device to measure high blood pressure and notify providers when readings trend too high or too low can improve management. This proactive approach helps in timely intervention and better control of blood pressure, reducing the risk of complications.

• Weight management support

By providing weight management counseling and support, employers can help their employees reach their weight loss goals. Also, since GLP-1 medications can be pricey, employers can lower the cost sharing on other anti-obesity medications.

These interventions could greatly improve heart health outcomes. The reports predict that by reducing the incidence of CVD such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes by 10%, and improving blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol by 20%, we could see around a 20% reduction in cases of heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular deaths. As a result, there would be an estimated 1.2 million fewer CVD and stroke events annually by 2050.

Related: Increasing number of employers covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, survey finds

A heart healthy conclusion

The AHA presidential advisories are crucial to understanding the impact CVD will have on the future health of Americans as well as the economic impact on employers and health care costs. Knowledge is power and needs to result in action. Ensuring that employees have access to resources, initiatives and programs will provide interventions needed to change the current path we are on for a heart healthy future. It’s vital to the health of our economy and the health of Americans.

Dr. Jessica Lea, Pharm D, is founder and CEO of Tria Health, a comprehensive health benefit offered through self-insured employers for individuals with chronic conditions.