Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Hospital Costs Driven By Heart, Pregnancy — Report
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 24 - 09 - 2006

Clogged heart arteries and pregnancy are the two most expensive conditions contributing to $790 billion in annual hospital costs in the United States, according to a government study released on Friday.
Treatment of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the heart arteries, topped the list at about $44 billion in 2004, the latest year available, the report by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said.
By payer, pregnancies and delivery made up the biggest cost for private insurance and Medicaid, costing hospitals about $41 billion in 2004, the report said.
“It is always surprising for people to realize how much hospital care goes to mothers and newborns,” said Roxanne Andrews, author of the report. “Most think of hospitals as places where only the sick go.”
The report was based on the largest US database of inpatient hospital charges, kept by the federal government.
Health care costs are climbing at more than double the level of inflation, financially straining government coffers and company finances.
Medical inflation is exacerbated by the rising number of people without insurance — over 46 million according to the latest figures. They tend seek treatment when they are sickest by going to hospital emergency rooms, the most expensive place to start. Total costs to treat the uninsured were about $36 billion, the report said.
Hospital costs in the US are split fairly evenly between the government and private insurance. The federal Medicare program covers about 43 million elderly and disabled, while Medicaid treats about 55 million low-income people. Most of the rest comes from private insurers, typically supplied through employers.
Also making the top five most expensive conditions were heart attacks, congestive heart failure and care for newborn infants.
Obesity, high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, smoking, and diabetes can all lead to hardening of the arteries. Common surgical treatments include angioplasty, where a catheter is threaded through an artery to the clogged heart artery, and stinting, where a wire mesh tube is used to keep the unclogged arteries clear.


Clic here to read the story from its source.