Looking only at the health care costs of CVD grossly underestimates the total cost of CVD in the UK. Production losses from death and illness in those of working age and from the informal care of people with the disease contribute greatly to the overall financial burden.
In 2006, production losses due to mortality and morbidity associated with CVD cost the UK over £8.2 billion, with around 55% of this cost due to death and 45% due to illness in those of working age. The cost of informal care for people with CVD in the UK was over £8.0 billion3 in 2006.
In 2006, production losses due to mortality and morbidity associated with CHD cost the UK over £3.9 billion, with around 65% of this cost due to death and 35% due to illness in those of working age. The cost of informal care for people with CHD in the UK was around £1.8 billion in 2006. In contrast two thirds of the production losses for stroke were due to illnesses in those of working age, and the cost of informal care (£2.9 billion) was far higher than for CHD.
