NHS faces major challenge to prevent increasing numbers of deaths from diabetes and coronary heart disease UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 17 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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New report says that while numbers are rising, the NHS can effectively manage these diseases through innovative medicines that will save and improve the quality of patients' lives.

The NHS could save tens of thousands more lives, treat more than 100,000 extra patients each year and reduce the pressure on hospital resources, according to an economic report launched today.

The report, The Human and Economic Value of Pharmaceutical Innovation and Opportunities for the NHS by the independent economic consultancy group NERA, and commissioned by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), forecasts the future impact of coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes on the NHS and the UK economy.

Key findings in the report include:

Tight management of blood glucose for the current population diagnosed with diabetes could save 380,000 hospital bed days a year and enable the NHS to treat an extra 78,000 patients per year by 2007.

NHS prescribing of statins has already saved some 6,000 lives. Increased prescribing of statins to prevent heart disease in the UK could save a further 14,000 lives over five years.

In 20 years' time, with the effective diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and CHD, the NHS would be able to treat more than 100,000 extra patients.

Improved treatment with innovative medicines could substantially reduce the impact of diabetes and CHD. By 2027, on the current basis, sick days taken by diabetes sufferers in the UK could amount to nine million working days per year, costing employers £650 million per year. CHD is forecast to have an even bigger impact on the UK economy, costing it up to £7.7 billion per year due to sickness and premature deaths by 2027.

While the report acknowledges that improving lifestyles remains crucial, patients, carers, the NHS and the economy could all benefit from increased use of new medicines. For example, the UK rate of statin doses per 1,000 patients (from 1997 to 2002) is only 24, compared to Norway with 52 doses per 1,000. Based on the UK Heart Protection Study, only 58 people need to take statins to save one life. Use of statins is predicted to avoid 30,000 heart attacks and 20,000 strokes over five years, reducing disability and saving lives. Furthermore, extending the use to others who could benefit is predicted to save an additional 14,000 people each year.

"While modern medicines have clearly made a huge impact on the current treatment of CHD and diabetes, our report suggests that the numbers of people suffering from these diseases is set to grow over the next 20 years," said Edward Bramley-Harker, Associate Director, NERA. "However, with better diagnosis and more pro-active treatment of these diseases, the NHS will be able to save lives and expensive hospital stays as well as treat more patients each year."

Dr Trevor Jones, Director General of the ABPI, added: "This report indicates that there is a big opportunity for the NHS to build on its current strategy to diagnose and treat patients as quickly and effectively as possible. What this report clearly shows is both the potential for, and the benefits of, improved treatment with innovative medicines.

"Health and lifestyle issues clearly need to be addressed. However, the benefits of this will take time to realise and today's medicines will continue to play a crucial role in managing these conditions."

The NERA report also highlights the negative effect on the quality of life of those with CHD and diabetes - and the effect on their families. Patients with diabetes take two to three times more days off sick and carers often have to take time off work, or give it up altogether, in order to look after relatives.

CHD patients fare no better - the NERA report shows that they take an additional five weeks off sick during the working year, causing anxiety and stress for their relatives and carers. The report makes it clear that more can be done to ensure that people with CHD and diabetes can benefit from new medicines being developed.

Sir Michael Hirst, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Diabetes UK, said: "Diabetes UK welcomes the NERA report, and fully endorses the view that changes in lifestyle and medicines have a critical role to play in the effective, long-term management of diabetes. Quality patient care can significantly reduce the associated health risks for patients, and subsequently relieve the burden on the NHS. As such, it is essential that the healthcare profession are up to date with the innovation of treatment options available."

Professor Sir Charles George BSc MD FRCP, Medical Director, British Heart Foundation, added: "About half of the major reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease achieved in the past 15 years is due to improved treatments. The UK pharmaceutical industry has been at the forefront of many such developments, especially the beta-blockers. These are not only benefiting people worldwide but also have made a significant contribution to our economic growth."

Click here to view the full NERA summary report in PDF format

Note to Editors

About NERA

Founded in 1961, NERA is a firm of consulting economists who understand how markets work. NERAs clients include corporations, governments, law firms, regulatory agencies, trade associations and international agencies. NERA has a global team of 500 professionals operating in 16 offices across North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

NERA economists devise practical solutions to highly complex business and legal issues arising from competition, regulation, public policy, strategy, finance and litigation. We create strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony and policy recommendations that reflect our specialisation in industrial and financial economics as well as our over 40 years of practical experience.

NERA has a dedicated health and pharmaceutical team drawing on specialists from the Europe and the US working on a variety of areas including health reform, health sector modelling, pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement, economic evaluation, intellectual property and strategic advice.

For further information or media enquiries, please contact:

NERA
Edward Bramley-Harker
Associate Director,NERA
Tel: 020 7659 8500 020 7747 1406
Email:edward.bramley.harker@nera.com

ABPI
Ben Hayes
ABPI, Director of Public Affairs
Tel: 020 7747 1406
Email:bhayes@abpi.org.uk

APCO
Sharon Gertler
APCO UK
020 7526 3616
Email: sgertler@apcouk.com

Copyright © ABPI - The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
http://www.abpi.org.uk/