Digestive complaints are among the most common health problems in the United States. Americans suffer from a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders, and together these conditions cost an estimated $100 billion each year. This figure includes both direct costs—such as physician visits, medications, and surgical procedures—and indirect costs, including missed workdays and lost productivity.
Each year, there are approximately 135 million cases of non–food-borne gastroenteritis. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects an estimated 19 million people and accounts for nearly $10 billion in annual healthcare costs. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects about 15 million Americans each year.
In addition, there are an estimated 76 million cases of food-borne illness annually. Gallbladder disease costs Americans nearly $6 billion per year, while colorectal cancer accounts for almost $5 billion in annual healthcare expenditures.
Together, these figures highlight the enormous economic and public health burden of gastrointestinal disorders in the United States.
