Timely Analysis of Pain Relief Costs and Outcomes Finds Disproportionate Risks for Seniors

MADISON, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A recently completed study finds that Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) pose costly dangers for senior citizens. "Actuarial Cost Profile of Pain Management Using Prescription NSAIDs" documents the fast-growing financial toll linked to NSAID toxicity and side effects.

Vireo Systems, Inc., which specializes in safe, effective pain relief research and products, commissioned an independent researcher to conduct the study. Vireo's priority was to explore quantitative statistics from a cross-section of published literature on the role of prescription NSAIDs for pain management. Among the findings:

• Nearly 33 million people including 13.8 million seniors (65+) regularly use NSAIDs for treating pain and inflammation.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) issues, renal problems and cardiac complications are the top-three most-cited side effects -- although others exist, which further escalates healthcare costs.
• Seniors over 75 years old who regularly use NSAIDs are six times more likely to experience toxic side effects than other users.
• The average hospitalization cost for someone suffering from common NSAID-associated side effects is $15,000-$20,000.
• By 2030, seniors will represent approximately half of all NSAID users and will be responsible for two-thirds of the added costs for all NSAID side effects.

The study also reports that doctors write 70 million NSAID prescriptions every year despite mounting evidence of disproportionate side effects in the senior community. NSAIDs are the second most commonly prescribed drugs, with antibiotics being the most common. The most active pharmaceutical ingredients in today's common NSAIDs include Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Celecoxib and Diclofenac.

In the future, aging baby boomers and rising pressure to control healthcare costs will boost demand for safe, effective NSAID alternatives. In fact, treating pain and inflammation with non-toxic, proven options is already reducing patient exposure to medical complications, lowering prescription costs, and exercising the preventative measures that are the hallmark of the new Affordable Care Act. If such solutions become the norm -- rather than the exception -- they could save an estimated $250 billion over the next 20 years and prevent millions of seniors from jeopardizing their health.

Mark Faulkner, president of Vireo Systems, stated, "Safe, non-toxic pain relievers such as AminoActiv clearly align with the future direction of medicine. As the next generation of healthcare delivery, including state health insurance exchanges and nonprofit health insurance co-ops, mobilizes toward a prevention-based model -- and physicians consider the benefits of prescribing NSAID alternatives first -- our study offers compelling support for cost-savings through greater pain management choices and a future free from NSAID side effects."

For additional information about the study, contact Mark Faulkner, 855-442-6466. 

About Vireo Systems, Inc.

Taking inspiration from one of the Latin words for "health," Vireo Systems, Inc. is the manufacturer of a number of nutraceuticals and health promotion products including AminoActiv, the #1 alternative to ibuprofen and NSAIDs. Vireo was founded in 2002 as part of a project with several university-based researchers, and today, the company's products deliver safe, effective relief for inflammation and pain. Vireo meets industry-standard good manufacturing practices as expected by the FDA, and AminoActiv safety and toxicity data have been reviewed and accepted by the FDA.

Vireo is headquartered just outside Nashville, Tenn., with a secondary facility in Plattsmouth, Neb., where it manufactures its pain relief capsules and cream. Vireo is a two-time nominee for the NEXT Award, a prestigious honor celebrating successful businesses in the Middle Tennessee Region and part of an annual recognition program sponsored by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurial Center.

Contact:

Mark Faulkner
President, Vireo Systems, Inc.
855-442-6466
[email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Vireo Systems, Inc.

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