By Carolyn Weaver, Executive Consultant
Annually The American Heart Association publishes an extensive and excellent state-of-the nation report on cardiovascular disease. On December 15, 2008, The American Heart Association published its 2009 annual report, based on the latest data available for 2006. Probably the most interesting fact is that the writing group determined that the number of persons with heart and vascular disease declined from the previous year (2008 report) by 700,000 people. Granted mortality rates have declined over the same period, but 1 in 3 adults still have one or more types of cardiovascular disease in an aging and growing population with rising healthcare costs. The cost per person with heart disease has risen from $2,846 in 2002 to $3,220 in 2006.
