The effect of a cardiovascular educational intervention on healthcare utilization and costs.

摘要: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and health expenditures in United States globally.1,2 According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,3 total US 2008 reached $2.3 trillion, which translates $7681 per person or 16.2% nation’s gross domestic product. For same year, American Heart Association4 estimated cost providing cardiovascular care at $448.5 billion. The recent crisis economy has led an increased focus on healthcare expenditures, prevention disease, opportunities contain costs. Developing testing primary strategies that improve outcomes are cost-efficient critical, yet few data have evaluated potential effect screening educational interventions utilization resources. With evolving system, reduced reimbursements, time constraints physicians, it important explore use nontraditional personnel provide aspects preventive may be time-consuming physicians (eg, lifestyle counseling). counseling by nonphysician providers such as nurses5 registered dietitians6,7 been shown cost-effective. Family-Based Intervention Trial Health (FIT Heart)8 recently showed a intervention educators was associated with significant improvement diet score beneficial effects high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level compared control (CIN), although both study groups low-density (the end point) similar degree following hospitalization family members CVD. objectives our were evaluate resource costs among FIT participants CVD special (SI) versus CIN during 1 year follow-up.