Five Diseases Linked to One Third of Increase in Health Care Costs

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Industry News Health spending rose $200 billion between 1987 and 2000, with five conditions – heart disease, pulmonary conditions, mental disorders, cancer, and hypertension – accounting for one-third of the increase. Fifteen health conditions accounted for 56% of the rise, they were heart disease, mental disorders, lung disease, cancer, trauma, high blood pressure, diabetes, back problems, arthritis, stroke and other brain blockages, skin disorders, pneumonia, infectious disease, hormone disorders, and kidney disease. Americans spent about $1.6 trillion on health care last year, or about 15% of the gross domestic product . . .