The Economic Costs of Stroke in Massachusetts

Abstract

The morbid and mortal harm of strokes may be reduced by public-health programs addressed to the underlying risk factors — particularly the early diagnosis and control of hypertension — as well as by medical management of the condition. The benefits of such programs are alleviation of both the human and the economic costs of stroke. Although a consideration of both cost categories is critical to effective public-health policy, only the economic consequences can be measured. Of economic costs, the more evident and readily measured are the direct costs: hospital expenses, fees for physician visits, nursing-home charges and the like. Less . . .