Given the limited ability of government to fund health care and the staggering cost of cardiovascular disease to society-an estimated $351.8 billion for 2003 in direct medical costs and lost productivity-critical choices must be made to reduce the burden of cardiovascular health care and minimize its collateral losses. In an illuminating synthesis of methodological and clinical studies, Cardiovascular Health Care Economics shows how costs can be established, how the value of clinical outcomes can be assessed, and how difficult choices can be rationally made. In the methodological chapters, well-known experts review the conceptual and practical issues involved in estimating and interpreting health care costs, making health status and utility assessments, and statistically analyzing cost-effectiveness and clinical trials. The clinical chapters apply these methods to the major clinical areas of cardiology-primary prevention of coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes, angioplasty vs coronary bypass surgery, CABG vs medicine, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac surgery. Additional chapters consider the use of economic studies for policy purposes and the future of Medicare under a balanced budget in an aging America.rnComprehensive and timely, Cardiovascular Health Care Economics offers today's cardiologists, administrators, policymakers, and investigators an enlightening introduction and up-to-date reference to cardiovascular health care economics, as well as a sound basis for making the good choices that will assure continued access to high-quality health care in the decades to come.