Top 9: Most Expensive Diseases

1.Heart Conditions
Annual cost: $68 billion
• Heart attacks: $15 billion
• Rhythm problems: $8.8 billion
• Chronic heart failure: $8.7 billion
• Coronary heart disease: $7.5 billion
• Valve disorders: $3.1 billion

This category does not include many of the expenses for drugs to lower cholesterol or blood pressure. The bulk of these costs (some $41 billion) are in hospital stays. Almost 20 million Americans have such heart ailments.

2.Trauma
Annual cost: $56 billion
• Broken bones: $21 billion
• Sprains and strains: $7.4 billion
• Open wounds: $4.5 billion
• Joint disorders: $3.5 billion
• Bruises: $2.3 billion

Some 36 million Americans suffer from trauma-related injuries. Most of the resulting spending is for hospital stays ($21 billion) or doctor visits and outpatient care ($19 billion).

3.Cancer
Annual cost: $48 billion
• Breast cancer: $6.5 billion
• Prostate cancer: $3.6 billion
• Skin cancers: $2.7 billion

Eleven million Americans received cancer care, half as many as were treated for heart conditions. But the costs were nearly as much. The $23 billion spent on hospital stays and $21 billion on outpatient care probably also includes the cost of cancer drugs, most of which are given intravenously.

4.Mental Illness
Annual cost: $48 billion
• Alzheimer's and dementia:
$7.7 billion
• Affective disorders: $19 billion
• Schizophrenia and similar disorders:
$3.4 billion
• Attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder: $2.3 billion

Thirty-one million Americans suffer from various mental illnesses. Most of the related costs are for drugs ($16 billion) and doctor visits and outpatient care ($13 billion.)

5.Respiratory Ailments
Annual cost: $45 billion
• COPD: $4.5 billion
• Asthma: $11 billion

Respiratory ailments afflict 50 million Americans. The biggest component of the costs is prescription drugs, which accounts for $15 billion in spending. Most of the remaining costs are split between doctor visits and hospital stays (both $12 billion.)

6.Hypertension
Annual cost: $32.5 billion

Thirty-seven million Americans have high blood pressure. Aside from increasing their risk of heart attacks, the condition can lead to kidney damage or even blindness. Most of the costs are for drugs ($17 billion), with another $8.6 billion spent on doctor visits and outpatient care.

7.Arthritis And Joint Disorders
Annual cost: $32 billion
• Arthritis: $7.8 billion
• Other joint disorders: $24 billion

Twenty-three million Americans were treated for arthritis and other joint disorders. Most of the money went to doctor visits and outpatient treatment ($11 billion) and hospital visits ($10 billion.)

8.Diabetes
Annual cost: $28 billion

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health problems in the Western world. There were 14 million diagnoses for the condition in the U.S. Most of the cost came from prescription drugs ($11 billion) and doctor visits or outpatient care ($6.8 billion.)

9.Back Problems
Annual cost: $23 billion

Back problems can be recalcitrant, and often there is little that can be done. For 18 million patients, most of the spending is for office visits and outpatient procedures ($12 billion), with another $6 billion spent on hospital stays.