Top medical conditions cost $500 billion

BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The top 10 medical conditions of patients in the United States cost $500 billion a year to treat, a government healthcare study said.

Heart disease alone costs $76 billion annually to treat in the United States.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality -- part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources -- found that in 2005 paid visits to doctor's offices, clinics and emergency departments, hospital stays, home healthcare and prescription medicines for the top 10 medical conditions cost some $500 billion.

The AHRQ News and Numbers report found after heart disease the top medical conditions treated in 2005 included trauma disorders at an estimated $72 billion, cancer $70 billion, mental disorders including depression $56 billion, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease $54 billion, high blood pressure $42 billion, type 2 diabetes $34 billion, osteoarthritis and other joint diseases $34 billion, back problems $32 billion and normal childbirth $32 billion.