According to THE SAGE GROUP, Undertreatment of Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) and Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) Increases Costs

BEAUFORT SC, May 30, 2017 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Speaking at the third annual “Understanding the Business of Peripheral Interventions” session of the 18th annual New Cardiovascular Horizons (NCVH) meeting in New Orleans, Mary L. Yost, President of THE SAGE GROUP, discussed the “Economic Cost of PAD, CLI and Venous Disease: How Big is the Market?”.

“At 175 million, CVD is one of our most common chronic diseases,” stated Yost. “CVD afflicts almost twice as many people as all cardiovascular diseases combined and six times more than those with diabetes.”

“While the phrase ‘underestimated, underdiagnosed and undertreated’ characterizes both peripheral artery disease (PAD) and CVD, knowledge, awareness and treatment of venous disease lags significantly behind artery disease. The current situation with CVD reminds me of PAD 15-20 years ago,” Ms. Yost observed.

Commenting on the costs of PAD and CVD, Yost explained, “PAD and CVD are very expensive diseases. One of the reasons is that both are frequently not treated until the most severe stages, which are more complex and costly. An increasing percentage of PAD patients are treated for CLI, which is characterized by rest pain, ulcers and gangrene. CVD treatment commonly occurs only after progression to leg ulcers, rather than at earlier stages of venus insufficiency.”

According to Ms. Yost, over 3 million suffer from venous ulcers. Venous ulcers cost $21 to $46 billion annually. This figure understates the economic burden because patient expenses and lost productivity costs are not included. Furthermore, venous ulcer patients have a significantly reduced quality of life.”

“Poor healing rates drive up venous ulcer treatment costs. At 6 months, 35%-50% remain unhealed. One recent study found that unhealed ulcers cost over 3X more than heled,” continued Yost.

Elaborating on factors increasing CLI costs, Yost explained, “Undertreatment of risk factors, treatment with primary amputation rather than revascularization and high rates of readmissions all add to the economic burden.”

“Earlier diagnosis and treatment of CLI and CVD could significantly reduce costs and diminish patient suffering,” she concluded.

Additional information on “The Business of PAD” can be found at: http://www.ncvh.org/meetings/business-of-peripheral-interventions/

THE SAGE GROUP, a research and consulting company, specializes in peripheral vascular disease in the lower limbs.

Additional information: www.thesagegroup.us.

SOURCE: THE SAGE GROUP

THE SAGE GROUP, Beaufort SC
Mary Yost, 404-520-6652
yost@thesagegroup.us