Illuminating an Invisible Epidemic: A Systemic Review of the Clinical and Economic Benefits of Early Diagnosis and Treatment in Inflammatory Disease and Related Syndromes

Abstract

Healthcare expenditures in the United States are growing at an alarming level with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) projecting that they will reach $5.7 trillion per year by 2026. Inflammatory diseases and related syndromes are growing in prevalence among Western societies. This growing population that affects close to 60 million people in the U.S. places a significant burden on the healthcare system. Characterized by relatively slow development, these diseases and syndromes prove challenging to diagnose, leading to delayed treatment against the backdrop of inevitable disability progression. Patients require healthcare attention but are initially hidden from clinician’s view by the seemingly generalized, non-specific symptoms. It is imperative to identify and manage these underlying conditions to slow disease progression and reduce the likelihood that costly comorbidities will develop. Enhanced diagnostic criteria coupled with additional technological innovation to identify inflammatory conditions earlier is necessary and in the best interest of all healthcare stakeholders. The current total cost to the U.S. healthcare system is at least $90B dollars annually. Through unique analysis of financial cost drivers, this review identifies opportunities to improve clinical outcomes and help control these disease-related costs by 20% or more.

The Economic Burden of Multiple Sclerosis in the United States

“…Studies have shown DMTs to reduce relapses, decrease disability, and improve health-related quality of life. 26 In addition, when patients are treated early, DMTs can delay the progression of disease and reduce the number of new lesions 27 and could lead to lower treatment costs, 28 reduced health care utilization, fewer days of work loss, and lower direct and indirect costs. 29 It is important to note that as the cost of DMTs rises and the affordability decreases, patients may be deterred from starting DMTs or be forced to interrupt their therapy.…”

Cost–Utility of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Fibromyalgia versus a Multicomponent Intervention and Usual Care: A 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial (EUDAIMON Study)

“…Regarding indirect costs, the range of women with FM who are able to preserve their jobs has been reported to be between 34% and 77% [7,8], and reducing work hours due to the impact of symptoms is a common practice among patients with FM [9]. Altogether, FM is second only to irritable bowel syndrome in its contribution to the approximately $300B in costs that inflammatory diseases and related chronic syndromes are expected to generate in the US in coming years [10]. There is a need, therefore, to optimize the development and the implementation of treatments for FM that, next to early accurate diagnoses and methods to support treatment-adherence, would help to address this burden [10].…”

“…Altogether, FM is second only to irritable bowel syndrome in its contribution to the approximately $300B in costs that inflammatory diseases and related chronic syndromes are expected to generate in the US in coming years [10]. There is a need, therefore, to optimize the development and the implementation of treatments for FM that, next to early accurate diagnoses and methods to support treatment-adherence, would help to address this burden [10].…”

Ibuprofen-loaded biocompatible latex membrane for drug release: Characterization and molecular modeling

“…[1][2][3][4] In the United States, inflammatory diseases and related syndromes affect approximately 60 million people. A study conducted by Wylezinski et al 5 elucidated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, challenges and financial impacts of four inflammatory diseases and two related syndromes that had an estimated cost of $90 billion in 2018.…”