Systemic Inflammation & Healthcare Costs: ASCVD, CKD
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The Rising Cost of Illness: Systemic Inflammation Drives Up Healthcare Spending for Heart and Kidney Disease Patients
By Dr. Jennifer Chen, Pulitzer prize-Winning chief editor
New research is shedding light on a concerning trend: a stark increase in healthcare resource utilization and costs among individuals battling atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) who also experience systemic inflammation (SI). A recent analysis of Danish national health registers revealed that patients with SI had significantly greater healthcare needs – 30% more inpatient and outpatient contacts – compared to those without SI. This translates to a 40% increase in healthcare costs for those with SI.
The connection between CKD and cardiovascular disease, including ASCVD, is well-established. Both conditions independently increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality, and a portion of this elevated risk is now believed to be linked to systemic inflammation.
“While the recognition of SI as an independent driver of cardiovascular risk is growing, it is unclear how SI influences the cost and use of healthcare services,” explained Martin Bødtker Mortensen, of the department of cardiology at Aarhus University Hospital and Johns Hopkins, and colleagues. “Such insights are important for a more comprehensive understanding of the healthcare burden associated with SI in individuals diagnosed with both ASCVD and CKD.”
To investigate this economic impact, researchers identified individuals in Denmark with both ASCVD and CKD using data from the Danish National Patient Register and Nordic Classification of surgical procedures codes, spanning from January 1994 to December 2022. They focused on individuals with at least two C-reactive protein (CRP) tests within a six-month period, defining systemic inflammation as a CRP level between 2 and 20 mg/L.The study ultimately included 19,594 individuals. A notable 13,036 (68%) met the criteria for systemic inflammation. These patients demonstrated a significantly higher demand for healthcare services.Notably, inpatient care accounted for the vast majority – approximately 85% – of the increased costs associated with SI. This underscores the severity of illness and the intensity of care required for these patients.
The findings highlight a critical need for further research. As the investigators concluded, future studies should explore whether effectively treating systemic inflammation can reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes for individuals with both ASCVD and CKD. Addressing inflammation may not onyl improve patient health but also alleviate a growing burden on healthcare systems.
Sources:
vukelic, A., et al. impact of systemic inflammation on healthcare resource utilization and costs in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2024.
National kidney Foundation. https://www.kidney.org/
* American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/