Heart failure affects approx. 600-700 thousand. people. Within a decade, the number of new cases is expected to increase to 250. annually. Although the disease affects the elderly, an increasing burden of heart failure is also observed in working age groups. It turns out that the demographic and economic aspects of the disease are one of the most serious barriers to the country’s economic development.
In a special report «Health priorities in the context of demographic and economic development of Poland. Conclusions and recommendations on the example of heart failure »WEI presented specific proposals of activities that may be crucial for the development of the country and the well-being of citizens.
Poles still live shorter than the average life expectancy of European Union citizens. Last year, the number of deaths increased by over 15. Importantly, the reason for over 70 percent. of all deaths were cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Circulatory diseases were responsible for 45 percent deaths in total (approx. 180 thousand), of which heart failure was responsible for about 60 thousand deaths. Thus, every third cardiac patient died of this disease. Simultaneously heart failure was responsible for about 15 percent all deaths in Poland.
The total indirect costs of heart failure in Poland have been estimated at approximately PLN 4 billion per year. The costs of premature deaths due to heart failure accounted for approximately 60%. these costs.
Therefore, it is necessary to take measures as soon as possible to improve the situation of people with diagnosed heart failure, as well as to deepen health awareness and the ability to diagnose the disease. The WEI notes that all treatment programs and health care cost analysis should also consider the demographic and economic costs of neglecting heart failure.
The under-financing of the public health care system in Poland has for years been the greatest obstacle to the improvement of the health condition of the society and the development of human resources and medical facilities. Regardless of the size of the financial outlays themselves, the method of managing these funds remains a problem. Without a clear definition of treatment priorities, even increased outlays for treatment will not bring the assumed social effects. When determining health care expenditure, it is important to take into account the improvement in the quality of life of patients and the prospect of restoring working capacity. WEI also draws attention to the need to strengthen coordinated care – especially in areas with the highest mortality. In the healthcare sector, there should be constant changes leading to the optimization of benefits and investment efficiency.
WEI recommends taking interventions by reimbursing cost-effective medical technologies in the treatment of heart failure as one of the foundations of effective health care, leading to a reduction in deaths and an increase in the quality of life of patients. It is also crucial to implement a model of coordinated and comprehensive care for a patient with heart failure (KONS), which may improve the quality of services provided and have a positive impact on health and economic indicators.