Costs of multiple sclerosis – extrapolation of Czech data to Polish patients

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the direct and indirect costs associated with disability due to multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland. Methods: Recently a cost-of-illness study was conducted in the Czech Republic, involving 909 patients with different levels of disability (the COMS study). Data on resource use from this trial was extrapolated to Polish patients and combined with Polish unit costs in 2012. The mean annual costs from societal and payers perspective were calculated for patients according to EDSS. Results: The estimated mean annual cost per patient with MS from a societal perspective ranges from 6970 EUR to 26,791 EUR. Indirect costs (production loss due to early retirement, sick-leave and informal care) cover up to 70% of total costs. Conclusions: With an estimated 40-60,000 patients with MS in Poland, the disease poses a high economic burden. Indirect costs have a substantial share in these costs. A high-quality prospective study on costs is needed.

Keywords::

• cost-of-illness
• costs
• economic burden
• multiple sclerosis

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Erratum

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The study was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Biogen Idec Poland Sp. z o.o. C Głogowski is an employee of the sponsor. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Multiple sclerosis poses a high economic burden in Poland.

• The annual per patient cost ranges from €7000 up to €27,000 , of which up to 70% are indirect (societal) costs.

• Patients in early stages of the disease incur high direct costs, while patients in late stages incur additionally high indirect costs.

• Treatment aimed at slowing down progression of the disease may result in savings in costs of medical care.

• A high-quality prospective study on costs in the Polish population is needed.

Notes