http://www.boston.com/dailynews/141/nation/_AGA_Announces_Results_of_Land:.shtml

AGA Announces Results of Landmark Study;

P.R.Newswire, 5/21/2001 16:39

More than 283 Million Cases of Gastrointestinal Disease

Cost at Least $42* Billion Dollars Annually

BETHESDA, Md., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A study conducted by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) shows that gastrointestinal diseases present a monumental burden of more than 283 million cases with a cost of $42 billion each year. Results were announced today at a press conference during Digestive Disease Week 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. This landmark study is the first of several projects resulting from a research partnership between AGA and TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.

The study, conducted by The Lewin Group, analyzed major national and local databases to assess prevalence and cost of 17 digestive conditions: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallbladder disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peptic ulcers, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C**, chronic diarrhea, diverticular disease, diseases of pancreas, Barrett's esophagus, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, foodborne illness and non-foodborne gastroenteritis.

A panel of AGA members served as advisors for the study: Mark Donowitz, MD, Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University; Jay Everhart, MD, Chief, Epidemiology Clinical Trial Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; and Robert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina.

"We expected the study to reveal a high burden," says Mark Donowitz, MD, member of the AGA's study advisory board, "but we had no idea how titanic that burden would be, and because this study only includes 17 out of 300 digestive disorders, even these results do not fully reflect the burden."

Foodborne illness and non-foodborne gastroenteritis ranked first and second in prevalence with 135 million and 76 million cases respectively. "One of the staggering statistics we learned from this study is that there are more than 200 million cases of diarrhea in the U.S. (resulting from foodborne illness and non-foodborne gastroenteritis) every year," says Dr. Donowitz. The other most prevalent GI conditions calculated by prevalence are gallbladder disease: 20.5 million, GERD:18.6 million, IBS:15.4 million and peptic ulcer disease: 6.7 million.

The diseases selected for the study were chosen due to their prevalence and availability of cost data. The economic burden included direct and indirect costs for 17 major gastrointestinal problems. Direct costs include visits to physician's offices, inpatient, outpatient, and emergency visits to hospitals, as well as the costs of prescription and over-the-counter medication. Indirect costs measure the cost of time away from work to seek medical care.

Cost estimates are conservative for several reasons. In the literature available for many diseases, costs are not figured for such things as long- term care in nursing homes or home health care. Indirect costs are hard to measure, because there is no source of documentation for losses due to pain, suffering and diminished quality of life. For this reason, the study used only lost production time figures to calculate indirect costs.

Overall, GERD is most expensive in total cost with $10 billion each year, and gallbladder disease is second with $6.5 billion annually. Colorectal cancer ranks third, with an annual cost of $5.3 billion. Fourth is peptic ulcer disease, at $3.4 billion, and fifth with $2.6 billion is diverticular disease.

"While the figures provided by this study are, in some cases, astounding," says Dr. Donowitz, "it is important to note that these cost figures represent conservative estimates. If more information were available, the overall costs would be greater. We must also take into account people who suffer from these diseases but do not have health insurance coverage or access to health care services, and therefore go undiagnosed, untreated and unrepresented in studies such as this one."

The economic burden of gastrointestinal diseases can potentially be decreased as more research is conducted. While research expenditures on GI disease were $1.4 billion in 2000, that amount is significantly less than the research commitment to other diseases with lower health and economic burdens in the U.S.

"The great health and economic burden of GI disease in the U.S. calls attention to the need for more aggressive research into the causes, prevention and treatments of these diseases," says Dr. Donowitz. "After examining the results of this study, we now know that the impact of digestive diseases should become a priority for research dollars. The causes of many of these diseases, including Crohn's disease and pancreatic cancer remain undetermined, and all patients could benefit from new treatment options and ultimately, cures."

* Includes 14 of the 17 conditions studied; three conditions in the study

have overlapping symptoms with conditions calculated.

** Hepatitis C was evaluated individually as well as included in the

chronic liver disease and cirrhosis category.

Founded in 1897, the American Gastroenterological Association is one of the oldest medical specialty societies in the United States. Its members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Representing more than 12,000 gastroenterologists worldwide, the AGA serves as an advocate for its members and their patients, supports gastroenterology practice and scientific needs, and promotes the discovery, dissemination and application of new knowledge, leading to the prevention, treatment and cure of digestive and liver diseases.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here

http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X04345480 SOURCE American Gastroenterological Association

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001