---
title: Total Potential Cost Savings Worldwide
description: "- **Estimate of the Total Number of Deaths Worldwide Annually** - According to the World Health Organization (WHO): - Total Global Deaths: Approximately 56 million deaths occur worldwide each year. - **Identify Deaths from Serious, Life-Limiting Illnesses** - a. Global…"
url: "https://www.empowerhope.ai/docs/total-potentialcostsavingsworldwide/"
updated: "2026-02-02"
category: References
---

# Total Potential Cost Savings Worldwide

- **Estimate of the Total Number of Deaths Worldwide Annually**
  - According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
    - Total Global Deaths: Approximately 56 million deaths occur worldwide each year.
- **Identify Deaths from Serious, Life-Limiting Illnesses**
  - a. Global Deaths from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
    - Non-Communicable Diseases account for 71% of all deaths globally.
      - Total NCD Deaths: 56 million × 71% ≈ 40 million deaths annually.
  - b. Main Categories of NCDs
    - Cardiovascular Diseases: ~17.9 million deaths
    - Cancers: ~9.3 million deaths
    - Chronic Respiratory Diseases: ~4.1 million deaths
    - Diabetes: ~1.5 million deaths
    - Others: Includes neurological disorders, kidney diseases, liver diseases, etc.
  - c. Total Deaths Relevant to EOL Discussions
    - Estimate: Approximately 40 million deaths annually are due to serious, life-limiting illnesses where EOL discussions are appropriate.
- **Estimate the Number of Patients Without EOL Discussions**
  - a. Patients Eligible for EOL Discussions
    - Assumption: Not all deaths from NCDs involve patients who are aware of their prognosis or have the opportunity for EOL discussions.
    - Estimate: 80% of NCD deaths involve patients who could benefit from EOL discussions.
    - Calculation: 40 million × 80% = 32 million patients
  - b. Patients Currently Without EOL Discussions
    - Based on U.S. Data: In the U.S., 68.8% of patients did not have EOL discussions.
    - Assumption for Global Estimate: The percentage may be higher globally due to cultural, educational, and healthcare system differences. However, for a conservative estimate, we'll use 68.8%.
    - Calculation: 32 million × 68.8% ≈ 22 million patients
- **Determine the Per-Patient Cost Savings**
  - a. U.S. Per-Patient Cost Savings
    - From the Study: $1,041 per patient in the U.S.
  - b. Adjusting for Global Healthcare Spending Differences
    - U.S. Healthcare Spending per Capita:
      - Approximately $10,600 per year.
    - Global Average Healthcare Spending per Capita:
      - Approximately $1,100 per year (based on World Bank data).
    - The ratio of Global to U.S. Spending:
      - $1,100 / $10,600 ≈ 0.104 (about 10%).
    - Adjusted Global Per-Patient Cost Savings:
      - $1,041 × 10% ≈ $104 per patient
- **Calculate the Total Potential Cost Savings Worldwide**
  - a. Total Savings Calculation
    - Total Potential Savings:
      - $104 per patient × 22 million patients ≈ $2.29 billion
  - b. Rounding
    - **Approximately $2.3 billion in potential market globally**

- **References**
  - **World Health Organization (WHO)**:
    - [Global Health Estimates](https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/mortality-and-global-health-estimates)
    - [Noncommunicable Diseases](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases)
  - **World Bank**:
    - [Health Expenditure per Capita](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD)
  - **Original Study**:
    - *End-of-Life Values and Value-based Care, The American Journal of Accountable Care, 2022, [https://www.ajmc.com/view/end-of-life-values-and-value-based-care](https://www.ajmc.com/view/end-of-life-values-and-value-based-care)*
    - Zhang, B., Wright, A. A., Huskamp, H. A., et al. (2009). *Health care costs in the last week of life: associations with end-of-life conversations*. **Archives of Internal Medicine**, 169(5), 480-488.