Cost of Treating Strokes in U.S. Could Soar to $180B Annually by 2030: Report

Over the next two decades, the cost of treating strokes in the United States is expected to more than double, topping more than $180 billion a year, according to new research.

Stroke

The main factor driving the increase: an aging population. The report, from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association, was published May 22 in the journal .

"Strokes will absolutely strain the health care system," Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele, chairman of the department of neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, said in an AHA news release.

One expert who reviewed the report agreed.

"The forecasts in this article are indeed dire -- the predicted direct and indirect costs of stroke could place a heavy burden on our society, and they may be underestimates," said Dr. Stanley Truhim, director of the Mount Sinai Stroke Center in New York City.

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Source: Philly.com