The Health Care Handbook: A Clear and Concise Guide to the United States Health Care System, 2nd Edition by Elisabeth Askin MD & Nathan Moore MD

Author:Elisabeth Askin MD & Nathan Moore MD [Askin MD, Elisabeth]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Washington University in St. Louis
Published: 2014-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

Research Is Important for Health

In this chapter, we want you to learn about some of the issues troubling the research system, including questions of validity and news of funding cuts. We also want you to learn how important research is to improving health. Evidence indicates that roughly 50% of longevity gains in the past century can be attributed to medical care.14 The medical research system has built and bolstered that care. David Cutler, a Harvard economist, gives an idea of the value of medical research by focusing on cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death.15

Cutler tells us (a) that research in cardiovascular disease has produced high tech innovation, low tech innovation, and behavioral changes causing health improvements; (b) that such health improvements have increased average life expectancy by 4.5 years; and (c) that the amount of research dollars spent for longevity gain means funding research is a steal. To quote:

“The average 45 year old spends about $30,000 more currently on cardiovascular disease than he or she did in 1950. But the gains from longer life are much greater. Using common values in the literature, we estimate that the improved health resulting from medical treatment changes is approximately $120,000. The rate of return to medical technology innovation is therefore about 4 to 1. The return to new knowledge is even greater. We estimate that basic knowledge about disease risk has a return of about 30 to 1.”15

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