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Abstract
Objective:
To estimate the economic burden of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Turkey, including the relapses and disease severity, and to evaluate the quality-of-life of MS patients.
Methods:
The Treatment Experience, Burden and Unmet Needs (TRIBUNE) study was a multi-national, cross-sectional, retrospective, burden-of-illness survey. Total costs were calculated using unit costs derived from price lists or published literature, where relevant, and inflated to 2011 TL prices.
Results:
A total of 295 MS patients (74% females) were included in the analysis. The population had a mean age of 36 years; 73% had the relapsing–remitting form. Mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 2.2. Twenty-two per cent of the MS patients required hospitalization in the past year and spent an average of 29.2 days/year in hospital. These values were 43% and 5.6 days for the outpatients, respectively. Total cost per patient/year was 18,700 TL (Turkish Lira). Total costs for patients with mild, moderate, and severe disability were 15,418 TL, 26,002 TL, and 44,208 TL per patient/year, respectively. The mean EuroQol 5D scores in the same groups were 0.73, 0.52, and 0.05, respectively.
Conclusions:
Multiple sclerosis imposes a significant economic burden on patients and society in Turkey.
Transparency
Declaration of funding
The study has been sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
Declaration of financial/other interests
Z. Caliskan is an employee of Novartis, Turkey. JME peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Professor Aksel Siva, Professor Celya Irkec, Professor Husnu Efendi, Associate Professor Muhtesem Gedizoglu, Professor Nur Yuceya and Associate Professor Nihal Isik (other TRIBUNE study members) for their kind contribution to the manuscript.