U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, September, 2003
Press
release, September 16, 2003: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030916.html
Full
Document this PDF version (1171KB) at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/prevention/prevention.pdf
By Chapter at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/prevention/
"..........HHS ISSUES REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF POOR
HEALTH ON BUSINESSES
Secretary Thompson To Meet With Business Executives To Share Prevention
Strategies.....
........In
2003, it is estimated that the U.S. will spend $1.66 trillion on health care
expenditures. Health care spending is growing faster than the gross domestic
product (GDP) and is projected to account for 17.7 percent of the GDP by
2012, up from 14.1 percent in 2001. A small number of chronic disorders-such
as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases- account for the majority of deaths
each year, and the medical care costs of people with chronic diseases
account for more than 75 percent of the nation's medical care costs. As the
population of the United States ages, substantially over the next several
decades, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and their impact on health care
costs, will likely increase.
Each individual's health is shaped by many factors including medical care,
social circumstances, and behavioral choices.4 Increasingly, there is clear
evidence that the major chronic conditions that account for so much of the
morbidity and mortality in the U.S., and the enormous direct and indirect
costs associated with them, in large part are preventable-and that to a
considerable degree they stem from, and are exacerbated by, individual
behaviors.
In particular, overweight and obesity, lack of physical activity, and
smoking greatly increase the risk of developing the most serious chronic
disorders. Most of the dollars spent on health care in the United States,
however, are for the direct care of medical conditions, while only a very
small portion is targeted on preventing those conditions. As Americans see
health care expenditures continue to increase, it is important to focus on
strategies that reduce the prevalence and cost of preventable diseases. This
paper summarizes recent research findings on the prevalence, effects and
costs of some of these key preventable conditions and highlights several
award-winning business prevention programs that make common
"cents."
Contents
Executive Summary
Overweight and Obesity
Diabetes
Cardiovascular Disease
Asthma
Tobacco Use
Businesses and Other Employers Promoting Health and Disease Prevention
Conclusion
Endnotes and References
This
message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an
effort to disseminate information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic
inequality in health; Socioeconomic health differentials; Gender; Violence;
Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science
issues. [DD/ IKM Area] "Materials provided in this electronic
list are provided "as is".
Unless expressly stated
otherwise, the findings and interpretations included in the Materials are
those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American Health
Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members".
PAHO/WHO
Website: http://www.paho.org/
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