He Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) serves millions of beneficiaries who suffer from chronic and degenerative diseases. These conditions not only seriously affect the health of patients, but also represent a high cost for the health system.
He general director of the IMSS, Zoé Robledohas emphasized the need for prevention to mitigate this problem, since no health system can support the growing number of patients with these diseases indefinitely.
Today you will know what they areThe three most costly diseases for the IMSS: diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure. ANDThe MSS allocates 94 billion pesos each year to care for beneficiaries with these diseases.
Diabetes: a costly epidemic
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent and expensive diseases for the IMSS. Currently, Social Security serves three million beneficiaries with this condition.
Diabetes treatment includes constant monitoring of glucose levels, insulin delivery, care for complications such as diabetic foot and retinopathy, among others.
The annual cost of treating these patients is exorbitant, and most alarmingly, diabetes is a preventable disease.
Good eating habits and regular physical activity are essential to reduce the risk of developing it. However, once a person acquires diabetes, it becomes a chronic condition that requires ongoing management, which increases costs for the IMSS significantly.
High blood pressure: a silent killer
High blood pressure affects 4.7 million IMSS beneficiaries, making it the most common chronic disease treated by the institute.
This condition is known as the “silent killer” because it often has no obvious symptoms until a serious cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, occurs.
Treatment of hypertension includes the use of antihypertensive medications, lifestyle changes, and constant monitoring of blood pressure.
Failure to adequately control hypertension can lead to severe and costly complications, such as heart failure and kidney disease. Like diabetes, hypertension can be preventable with a balanced diet and regular exercise, but its chronic management represents a considerable financial burden for the IMSS.
Kidney failure: the burden of dialysis
Kidney failure is perhaps the most expensive disease for the IMSS in terms of treatment per capita. With 66,000 beneficiaries receiving dialysis or hemodialysis, the cost of caring for this condition is astronomical.
Kidney failure is often a consequence of uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, underscoring the interconnection between these chronic diseases.
Treatment of kidney failure requires dialysis sessions several times a week or, in some cases, a kidney transplant.
These therapies are not only expensive, but also significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Furthermore, the cost of post-transplant immunosuppressive medications and associated complications further aggravate the economic burden for the IMSS.
The recipe: prevention
The general director of the IMSS, Zoé Robledo, has stressed that prevention is the key to reducing the impact of these diseases. Promoting good eating habits and encouraging physical activity can prevent the onset of diabetes and hypertension, and consequently, reduce the risk of kidney failure.
The most important lesson of the pandemic has been the vulnerability of the productive working population to chronic diseases. The cost is not only reflected in medical expenses, but also in lost productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism at work.
Prevention must be the main focus to ensure the sustainability of the health system and improve the quality of life of beneficiaries. Investing in prevention and health education programs is essential to address these challenges and alleviate the financial burden of the IMSS.
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