OBJECTIVES:  The economic burden of heart conditions in the Latin American region has not been previously quantified. This study assessed the economic burden of heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), atrial fibrillation (AF), and hypertension (HTN) in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, and the cost effectiveness (CE) of structured telephone support (STS) and telemedicine (TM) for the treatment of HF. METHODS:  To estimate the cost of four heart conditions by country, a prevalence approach was used for HF, AF and HTN, and an incidence approach was used for MI. Costs were estimated for the year 2015 and included health system expenditures, productivity losses (absenteeism, lower workforce participation, premature mortality) and informal care costs, and deadweight losses associated with government expenditures. Data inputs for costs, including prevalence and incidence, were based on secondary data sources informed by a targeted literature review including country specific grey literature and data bases. The study also appraised the value of the loss of healthy life, measured in disability adjusted life years (DALYs), using global burden of disease disability weights. All inputs were triangulated using semi-structured interviews with clinicians, insurers and health administrators. The CE of TM and STS vs. usual care was assessed using a Markov model consisting of two permanent and two temporary health states. RESULTS:  Accounting for co-morbidities, the conditions affected approximately 89.6 million people (28% of the adult population) in the nine countries in 2015 leading to significant wellbeing loss of 7.0 million DALYs, and economic burden of USD 31.1 billion in 2015. The CE analysis suggested TM and STS may be cost effective treatment options for the management of HF. CONCLUSIONS:  Heart conditions impose a significant burden to health systems and society; their prevention and appropriate management would result in substantial wellbeing benefits and economic savings