Acute coronary syndromes in Europe: 1-year costs and outcomes

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aims to estimate costs (including medications prescribed, intervention rates and hospital utilization) and health outcomes of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) during the first year following diagnosis.

Research design and methods: Treatment pathways for ACS patients were developed and country-specific resource use was multiplied by unit costs. Countries examined were the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Patients with unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction (ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation with/without Q-wave) were considered. The study models the incidence of ACS, 1-year mortality, investigations, revascularisation, pharmaceutical use and medical management. Economic outcomes were direct healthcare costs (in 2004 Euros), including total cost, cost per patient with ACS and cost per capita.

Results: The estimated number of deaths in the first year following ACS diagnosis ranged from around 22?500 in Spain to over 90?000 in Germany. The largest contributors to total costs are hospital stay and revascularisation procedures. Pharmaceuticals were estimated at 14–25% of ACS total cost. The total cost of ACS in the UK is estimated around €1.9 billion, compared with €1.3 billion in France, €3.3 billion in Germany, €3.1 billion in Italy and €1.0 billion in Spain. The cost per ACS patient ranges from €7009 (in the UK) to €12?086 (Italy).

Conclusions: Countries with higher expenditure on ACS patients tended to have lower case-fatality rates, and countries with the lowest incidence of ACS also had the lowest cost per capita. The costs of ACS constitute a large proportion of total healthcare expenditure of Western European economies.     

The cost of mental disorders in France

Aims: To provide burden estimates of mental disorders in France and compare the results with findings from other countries and EU in general.Method: Stepwise top down approach, consisting of analyses of existing data sets, national surveys and ad hoc surveys. Mental disorder was defined by diagnoses in the chapter ‘Mental and behavioural disorders’ from the International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision (ICD-10), excluding, dementia and mental retardation. Disease burden was measured by total health care costs, social care costs, lost output and loss of well being, 2007 data was used consistently.Results: The total cost of mental health care was estimated at €13.4 billion, or 8% of total healthcare expenditures. Total cost of health and social services was estimated at €6.3 billion, including €1.3 billion for informal care. Total cost of lost production amounted to €24.4 billion, €20.0 billion for lost output and €4.4 billion for workers' compensation. Mental disorders resulted in a total loss of 2.2 million QALY and a total cost of lost well being of €65.08 billion. The total costs of mental disorders were estimated at €109 billion, 20% of which are actual money spent and 80% the social value of disease consequences.Conclusion: In France with a population of 65 million, an estimated 12 million inhabitants currently suffer from one or more mental disorders. The true size and burden of mental disorders in France was significantly underestimated by policy makers in the past.     

Drug-related morbidity and mortality: updating the cost-of-illness model

OBJECTIVE: To update the 1995 estimate of $76.6 billion for the annual cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality resulting from drug-related problems (DRPs) in the ambulatory setting in the United States to reflect current treatment patterns and costs. DESIGN: For this study, we employed the decision-analytic model developed by Johnson and Bootman. We used the model's original design and probability data, but used updated cost estimates derived from the current medical and pharmaceutical literature. Sensitivity analyses were performed on cost data and on probability estimates. SETTING: Ambulatory care environment in the United States in the year 2000. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A hypothetical cohort of ambulatory patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Average cost of health care resources needed to manage DRPs. RESULTS: As estimated using the decision-tree model, the mean cost for a treatment failure was $977. For a new medical problem, the mean cost was $1,105, and the cost of a combined treatment failure and resulting new medical problem was $1,488. Overall, the cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality exceeded $177.4 billion in 2000. Hospital admissions accounted for nearly 70% ($121.5 billion) of total costs, followed by long-term-care admissions, which accounted for 18% ($32.8 billion). CONCLUSION: Since 1995, the costs associated with DRPs have more than doubled. Given the economic and medical burdens associated with DRPs, strategies for preventing drug-related morbidity and mortality are urgently needed.     

Real-world costs of ischemic stroke by discharge status

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the acute healthcare costs of ischemic stroke during hospitalization and the quarterly all-cause healthcare costs for the first year after discharge by discharge status.

Methods: Adult patients with a hospitalization with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD-9-CM: 434.xx or 436.xx) between 1 January 2006 and 31 March 2015 were identified from a large US commercial claims database. Patients were classified into three cohorts based on their discharge status from the first stroke hospitalization, i.e. dead at discharge, discharged with disability, or discharged without disability. Third-party (medical and pharmacy) and out-of-pocket costs were adjusted to 2015 USD.

Results: A total of 7919 patients dead at discharge, 45,695 patients discharged with disability, and 153,778 patients discharged without disability were included in this analysis. The overall average age was 59.7 years and 52.3% were male. During hospitalization, mean total costs (third-party and out-of-pocket) were $68,370 for patients dead at discharge, $73,903 for patients discharged with disability, and $24,448 for patients discharged without disability (p?p?p?p?Conclusion: The results demonstrated the high economic burden of ischemic stroke, especially among patients discharged with disability with the highest costs incurred during the inpatient stays.     

Economic consequences of legal and illegal drugs: The case of social costs in Belgium

BackgroundLegal and illegal drugs impose a considerable burden to the individual and to society. The misuse of addictive substances results in healthcare and law enforcement costs, loss of productivity and reduced quality of life.MethodsA social cost study was conducted to estimate the substance-attributable costs of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication to Belgian society in 2012. The cost-of-illness framework with prevalence-based and human capital approach was applied. Three cost components were considered: direct, indirect and intangible costs related to substance misuse.ResultsThe direct and indirect cost of addictive substances was estimated at 4.6 billion euros in Belgium (419 euros per capita or 1.19% of the GDP) and more than 515,000 healthy years are lost due to substance misuse. The Belgian social cost study reaffirms that alcohol and tobacco impose the highest cost to society compared to illegal drugs. Health problems are the main driver of the social cost of legal drugs. Law enforcement expenditure exceed the healthcare costs but only in the case of illegal drugs.ConclusionEstimating social costs of addictive substances is complex because it is difficult to determine to what extent the societal harm is caused by substances. It can be argued that social cost studies take only a ‘snapshot’ of the monetary consequences of substance misuse. Nevertheless, the current study offers the most comprehensive analysis thus far of the social costs of substance misuse in Belgium.     

The economic burden of fibromyalgia: comparative analysis with rheumatoid arthritis*

ABSTRACT

Objective: To quantify and compare direct costs, utilization, and the rate of comorbidities in a sample of patients with fibromyalgia (FM), a poorly understood illness associated with chronic widespread pain that is commonly treated by rheumatologists, to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a well studied rheumatologic illness associated with inflammatory joint pain. Patients with both illnesses were isolated and reported as a third group. A secondary analysis of work loss was performed for an employed subset of these patients.

Research design and methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of Thomson Reuters MarketScan administrative healthcare claims and employer-collected absence and disability data for adult patients with a diagnosis of FM (ICD-9-CM 729.1) and/or RA (ICD-9-CM 714.0x,–714.3x) on at least one inpatient or two outpatient claims during 2001–2004.

Main outcome measures: The 12-month healthcare utilization, expenditures, and rates of comorbidities were quantified for all study-eligible patients; absence and short-term disability days and costs were quantified for an employed subset.

Results: The sample included 14?034 FM, 7965 RA, and 331 FM?+?RA patients. Patients with FM had a higher prevalence of several comorbidities and greater emergency department (ED) utilization than those with RA. Mean annual expenditures for FM patients were $10?911 (SD?=?$16?075). RA patient annual expenditures were similar to FM: $10?716 (SD?= $16?860). Annual expenditures were almost double in patients with FM+RA ($19?395, SD?= $25?440). A greater proportion of patients with FM had any short-term disability days than those with RA (20 vs. 15%); and a greater proportion of patients with RA had any absence days (65 vs. 80%). Mean costs for absence from work and short-term disability in the FM and RA groups were substantial and similar. The FM+RA group was of insufficient sample size to report on work loss.

Limitations: The availability of newer and more expensive FDA-approved medications since 2004 is not reflected in our findings. This analysis was restricted to commercially insured patients and therefore may not be generalizable to the entire U.S. population.

Conclusions: The burden of illness in FM is substantial and comparable to RA. Patients with FM incurred direct costs approximately equal to RA patients. Patients with FM had more ED, physician, and physical therapy visits than RA patients. Patients in both groups had several comorbidities. Patients with FM+RA incurred direct costs almost double those of the patients with either diagnosis alone. FM and RA patients incurred similar overall absence and short-term disability costs.     

Influenza. The role of burden-of-illness research

Influenza is associated with a significant economic burden on both society and the individual, resulting in considerable healthcare costs and loss of productivity, as well as intangible costs such as suffering, grief and social disruption. The incidence and severity of influenza infection depend, at least in part, on the age and health status of the population. For example, the incidence of influenza is relatively high among children and young adults, but serious complications are much more likely to occur among the very young (< 1 year of age) and the elderly (> 65 years of age). School absenteeism tends to peak in the first half of a typical 6- to 8-week influenza epidemic, followed by workplace absenteeism in the latter half as school-aged children pass the infection to family members. Cost-of-illness studies are used by policy-makers to justify budgets and set priorities for prevention programmes, research and other expenditures. On the basis of German Sickness Fund data, recent estimates indicate that the cost of an influenza epidemic in that country is approximately 2 billion Deutschmarks (approximately $US1.4 billion). The bulk of these costs reflects indirect costs associated with lost productivity, a finding also noted in an earlier French cost-of-illness study of influenza. Thus, the main economic burden of influenza falls on infected individuals, their employers and their relatives. Methodology used in cost-of-illness studies can be quite variable. For example, two main approaches are used in measuring indirect costs (human capital and willingness to pay), although there is controversy as to which is the preferred method. Thus, investigators involved in cost-of-illness studies must be explicit regarding study methodology in order to allow for appropriate interpretation of study results by interested parties.     

A pharmacoeconomic analysis of severe psoriasis therapy: a review of treatment choices and cost efficiency

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory disease afflicting 2% of the US population; it results in significant morbidity. The annual healthcare costs related to psoriasis are an estimated $11.3 billion and, with an expanding biologic market, an updated costs analysis is needed. AREAS COVERED: Current treatments, including systemic agents (acitretin, cyclosporine, methotrexate), phototherapies and all available biologics (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, alefacept, ustekinumab) appropriate for severe psoriasis are described mechanistically and with regard to their efficacy, quality-of-life improvements and side effects. A cost-efficacy model considering US health-system-based annual costs, clinical and quality-of-life improvements was created. Reported Psoriasis Area and Severity Index improvement of 75% from baseline (PASI-75) scores, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) improvements and estimated costs of medications are described. Annual costs ranged from $1330 for methotrexate to $48,731 for high-dose etanercept. The lowest cost per achieving DLQI minimally important difference was from phototherapy; the highest was from alefacept. The lowest costs per patient achieving PASI-75 was from methotrexate and the highest was from alefacept. EXPERT OPINION: Phototherapies and methotrexate offer high efficacy for their costs. Therapeutic approaches must be individualized for each patient given all considerations described.     

Economic implications of treatment-resistant depression among employees

BACKGROUND: Conservative estimates indicate between 10% and 20% of all individuals with major depressive disorders (MDDs) fail to respond to conventional antidepressant therapies. Amongst those with MDD, individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have been found to be frequent users of healthcare services and to incur significantly greater costs than those without TRD. Given the prevalence of the disorder, it is understandable that MDDs are responsible for a significant amount of both direct and indirect healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE: To provide empirical findings for employees likely to have TRD based on analysis of employer claims data, in the context of previous research.METHODS: We conducted a claims data analysis of employees of a large national (US) employer. The data source consisted of medical, pharmaceutical and disability claims from a Fortune 100 manufacturer for the years 1996-1998 (total beneficiaries >100000). The employee sample included individuals with medical or disability claims for MDDs (n = 1692). A treatment pattern algorithm was applied to classify MDD patients into TRD-likely (n = 180) and TRD-unlikely groups. Treated prevalence of select comorbid conditions and the patient costs (direct and indirect) from the employer perspective by condition were compared among TRD-likely and TRD-unlikely employees, and with a 10% random sample of the overall employee population for 1998. RESULTS: The average annual cost of employees considered TRD-likely was dollars US 14490 per employee, while the cost for depressed but TRD-unlikely employees was dollars US 6665 per employee, and dollars US 4043 for the employee from the random sample. TRD beneficiaries used more than twice as many medical services compared with TRD-unlikely patients, and incurred significantly greater work loss costs.CONCLUSION: TRD has gained increasing recognition due to both the clinical challenges and economic burdens associated with the condition. TRD imposes a significant economic burden on an employer. TRD-likely employees are more likely to be treated for selected comorbid conditions and have higher medical and work loss costs across all conditions.     

Estimating the economic impact of a half-day reduction in length of hospital stay among patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the US

ABSTRACT

Background: A recent study suggested that levofloxacin significantly reduces the hospital length of stay (LOS), by 0.5 days (p?=?0.02), relative to moxifloxacin in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The current analysis evaluated the potential economic impact of this half-day reduction in LOS.

Methods: A cost model was developed to estimate the impact of a half-day reduction in LOS for CAP hospitalizations in the US. CAP incidence, hospitalization rate, and costs were obtained from published studies in PubMed and from publicly available government sources. The average daily cost of hospitalization was estimated for fixed costs, which comprise 59% of total inpatient costs. Costs from prior years were inflated to 2007 US dollars using the consumer price index. A range of cost savings, calculated using inpatient CAP costs from several studies, was extrapolated to the US CAP population.

Results: Using the Centers for Disease Control National Hospital Discharge estimate of 5.3 days LOS for CAP, and an average cost (2007 $US) of $13,009 per CAP hospitalization, a daily fixed cost of $1448 was estimated. The resultant half-day reduction in costs associated with LOS was $724/hospitalization (range $457 to $846/hospitalization). When fixed and variable costs were considered, the estimated savings were $1227.27/episode. The incidence of CAP was estimated to be 1.9% (5.7 million cases/year based on current population census), and the estimated rate of CAP hospitalization was 19.6% (1.1 million annual hospitalizations). At $13,009/CAP-related hospitalization, total fixed inpatient costs of $8.6 billion annually were projected. The half-day reduction in LOS would therefore generate potential annual savings of approximately $813 million (range $513 million to $950 million). When total costs (fixed plus variable) were estimated, the mean savings for a half-day reduction would be approximately $1227/episode (range of $775 to $1434) or $1.37 billion annually in the US CAP population (range of $871 million to $1.6 billion). Limitations include the use of a single study for the estimation of fixed costs but a diversity of sources used for estimates of other variables, and lack of data with respect to the effects on costs of diagnostic-related groups, discounted contracts, and capitated payments.

Conclusions: A relatively small decrease in LOS in CAP can have a substantial cost impact, with estimated savings of $457 to $846 per episode or $500-$900 million annually. Additional evaluation is warranted for interpreting these cost-savings in the context of current antibiotic prescribing patterns.     

The economic burden of schizophrenia in Canada in 2004

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the financial burden of schizophrenia in Canada in 2004. METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness (COI) approach was used. The primary sources of information for the study included a review of the published literature, a review of published reports and documents, secondary analysis of administrative datasets, and information collected directly from various federal and provincial government programs and services. The literature review included publications up to April 2005 reported in MedLine, EMBASE and PsychINFO. Where specific information from a province was not available, the method of mean substitution from other provinces was used. Costs incurred by various levels/departments of government were separated into healthcare and non-healthcare costs. Also included in the analysis was the value of lost productivity for premature mortality and morbidity associated with schizophrenia. Sensitivity analysis was used to test major cost assumptions used in the analysis. Where possible, all resource utilization estimates for the financial burden of schizophrenia were obtained for 2004 and are expressed in 2004 Canadian dollars (CAN dollars). RESULTS: The estimated number of persons with schizophrenia in Canada in 2004 was 234 305 (95% CI, 136 201-333 402). The direct healthcare and non-healthcare costs were estimated to be 2.02 billion CAN dollars in 2004. There were 374 deaths attributed to schizophrenia. This combined with the high unemployment rate due to schizophrenia resulted in an additional productivity morbidity and mortality loss estimate of 4.83 billion CAN dollars, for a total cost estimate in 2004 of 6.85 billion CAN dollars. By far the largest component of the total cost estimate was for productivity losses associated with morbidity in schizophrenia (70% of total costs) and the results showed that total cost estimates were most sensitive to alternative assumptions regarding the additional unemployment due to schizophrenia in Canada. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant improvements in the past decade in pharmacotherapy, programs and services available for patients with schizophrenia, the economic burden of schizophrenia in Canada remains high. The most significant factor affecting the cost of schizophrenia in Canada is lost productivity due to morbidity. Programs targeted at improving patient symptoms and functioning to increase workforce participation has the potential to make a significant contribution in reducing the cost of this severe mental illness in Canada.     

Relationship Between Buprenorphine Adherence and Health Service Utilization and Costs Among Opioid Dependent Patients

Buprenorphine-medication assisted therapy (B-MAT) is an effective treatment for opioid dependence, but may be considered cost-prohibitive based on ingredient cost alone. The purpose of this study was to use medical and pharmacy claims data to estimate the healthcare service utilization and costs associated with B-MAT adherence among a sample of opioid dependent members. Members were placed into two adherence groups based on 1-year medication possession ratio (≥ 0.80 vs. < 0.80). The B-MAT adherent group incurred significantly higher pharmacy charges (adjusted means; $6,156 vs. $3,581), but lower outpatient ($9,288 vs. $14,570), inpatient ($10,982 vs. $26,470), ER ($1,891 vs. $4,439), and total healthcare charges ($28,458 vs. $49,051; p < 0.01) compared to non-adherent members. Adherence effects were confirmed in general linear models. Though B-MAT adherence requires increased pharmacy utilization, adherent individuals were shown to use fewer expensive health care services, resulting in overall reduced healthcare expenditure compared to non-adherent patients.     

Economic implications of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder for healthcare systems

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood, with adverse consequences that persist through adolescence into adulthood. Thus, the burden of illness associated with ADHD is high for affected individuals, their families, and society at large. This article reviews available information about ADHD-associated utilisation of healthcare resources, direct medical costs, and the costs or cost effectiveness of pharmacological interventions. Published estimates suggest that direct medical costs for youth with ADHD are approximately double those for youth without ADHD. Cross-sectional studies suggest that ADHD-associated incremental costs are highest for mental health services and pharmaceutical costs, and are greatest for youth with comorbid psychiatric conditions and for those being treated with stimulant medication. To guide relevant clinical and health policy, additional research is warranted on the following: source of increased costs observed among persons with ADHD; patient characteristics of those accruing high medical costs; and the long-term effect of ADHD treatment on direct and indirect costs.     

The economics of coeliac disease: a population‐based study

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 261–269

Summary

Background Despite increasing prevalence, the economic implications of coeliac disease are just emerging. Aims To assess the impact of coeliac disease diagnosis on healthcare costs and the incremental costs associated with coeliac disease. Methods Administrative data for a population‐based cohort of coeliac disease cases and matched controls from Olmsted County, Minnesota were used to compare (i) direct medical costs 1 year pre‐ and post‐coeliac disease diagnosis for 133 index cases and (ii) 4‐year cumulative direct medical costs incurred by 153 index cases vs. 153 controls. Analyses exclude diagnostic‐related and out‐patient pharmaceutical costs. Results Average total costs were reduced by $1764 in the year following diagnosis (pre‐diagnosis cost of $5023 vs. $3259; 95% CI of difference: $688 to $2993). Over a 4‐year period, coeliac disease cases experienced higher out‐patient costs (mean difference of $1457; P = 0.016) and higher total costs than controls (mean difference of $3964; P = 0.053). Excess average total costs were concentrated among males with coeliac disease ($14 191 vs. $4019 for male controls; 95% CI of difference: $2334 to $20 309). Conclusions Coeliac disease‐associated costs indicate a significant economic burden of disease, particularly for diseased males. Diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease reduce medical costs of care suggesting an economic advantage to earlier detection and treatment.     

Societal costs of underage drinking

OBJECTIVE: Despite minimum-purchase-age laws, young people regularly drink alcohol. This study estimated the magnitude and costs of problems resulting from underage drinking by category-traffic crashes, violence, property crime, suicide, burns, drownings, fetal alcohol syndrome, high-risk sex, poisonings, psychoses, and dependency treatment-and compared those costs with associated alcohol sales. Previous studies did not break out costs of alcohol problems by age. METHOD: For each category of alcohol-related problems, we estimated fatal and nonfatal cases attributable to underage alcohol use. We multiplied alcohol-attributable cases by estimated costs per case to obtain total costs for each problem. RESULTS: Underage drinking accounted for at least 16% of alcohol sales in 2001. It led to 3,170 deaths and 2.6 million other harmful events. The estimated $61.9 billion bill (relative SE = 18.5%) included $5.4 billion in medical costs, $14.9 billion in work loss and other resource costs, and $41.6 billion in lost quality of life. Quality-of-life costs, which accounted for 67% of total costs, required challenging indirect measurement. Alcohol-attributable violence and traffic crashes dominated the costs. Leaving aside quality of life, the societal harm of $1 per drink consumed by an underage drinker exceeded the average purchase price of $0.90 or the associated $0.10 in tax revenues. CONCLUSIONS: Recent attention has focused on problems resulting from youth use of illicit drugs and tobacco. In light of the associated substantial injuries, deaths, and high costs to society, youth drinking behaviors merit the same kind of serious attention.