England’s Four Major Killer Diseases Could Cost £86bn Annually by 2050

The four major killer diseases diseases in England—dementia, coronary heart disease, cancer, and stroke—are projected to cost £86 billion annually by 2050. With an ageing population, the combined annual cost of these diseases is expected to increase from £51.9 billion in 2018 to £85.6 billion in 2050, a rise of 61%. These four conditions account for 59% of all deaths and result in an average loss of 5.1 years of life per affected individual.

The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal’s findings emphasize the urgent need for government action to improve public health and prevent the overwhelming costs of ill health. The projected costs should alarm the Treasury. As the number of over-65s rises, dementia costs alone are expected to double to £23.5 billion, and the financial impact of strokes will increase by 85% to £16 billion. Similarly, heart disease costs are projected to rise by 54% to £19.6 billion, and cancer, the costliest of the four killer diseases, by 40% to £26.5 billion. These estimates encompass the overall economic impact, including NHS and social care spending, lost productivity, and informal care provided by relatives.

Dr. Ramon Luengo-Fernandez and colleagues from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford argue that while it is impossible to prevent all cases, efforts should focus on delaying the onset of diseases like dementia and stroke to later in life, such as in the 90s rather than at 60 or 70. Improved diet, increased physical activity, and smoking cessation are critical to achieving this. The reduction in smoking rates from over 50% to about 13% demonstrates the potential for similar successes in other areas.

Enhancing physical activity can significantly improve health, reduce illness burdens, and limit associated costs. More resources devoted to primary care, including GP services, would facilitate earlier cancer detection, thereby reducing treatment costs.

As we all know prevention is better than cure, therefore government should shift the focus of healthcare from simply treating sickness to preventing it in the first place.

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