That implies large costs for health-care systems – about $200 billion in the US and €125 billion ($133 billion) in the European Union each year. Technologies that engage patients in their own health care and enable more seamless adherence to medication regimes have the potential to improve disease management, reduce hospitalization, and lower costs.
目前，不遵守医药效果机制是治疗NCD所面临的主要问题。比如，在美国，最不遵守用药规定的糖尿病患者有30%的年风险必须住院，而最遵守规则的患者的这一风险只有13%。这给医疗体系带来了巨大的成本——美国大约为每年2,000亿美元，欧盟大约为每年1,250亿欧元。让患者参与到其自身医疗过程、让患者不懈地遵守医药效果极致的技术有望改善疾病管理、降低住院率，也降低成本。