Multiple sclerosisMonday, June 22, 2009, 17:30 - 19:00Cost of the diagnosis of multiple sclerosisV. Casado, L. Gubieras, L. Romero-Pinel, E. Matas, L. Bau, M. Lopez, A. Escartín, O. Espallardo, T. Arbizu (Barcelona, Madrid, ES)
Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease with a variety of symptoms and a complex diagnosis. It causes an important socioeconomic cost. Although many studies have demonstrated the significant cost of the disease, the impact of the diagnosis has not been studied yet. The aim of this work is to study the socioeconomic impact of diagnosis of MS.
Methods: This is a prospective observational study performed in 2 MS units from 2 hospitals of Barcelona. We selected the 30 patients that had been diagnosed of MS between december 2006 and april 2008. A questionnaire was administered to patients between 2 and 4 months after the diagnosis. The collected data included information about demographic, social, employment and clinical aspects, and the consumption of sanitary and nonsanitary resources during the MS diagnosis process. We employed a cost-of-illness method. The human capital approach was used to estimate indirect costs, and EQ-5D scale was used to estimate the impact of diagnosis on quality of life (intangible costs).
Results: The mean age of patients was 33.1 years (SD 8.9), predominantly female sex (80%). All patients had recurrent-remitting MS with mild disability (EDSS 0-3.5). The mean time from onset to diagnosis was 714.5 (SD 754.1) days. The 87% of the patients reported to be employed.
The diagnosis of MS required a mean of 9.6 (SD 6.2) medical visits, 3.3 (SD 5.1) days of hospitalization, and 30.2 (SD 37.6) days off work. They reported that they had lost 14.6 (SD 16.5) days of their free time.
The diagnosis of MS resulted 8450.1 euros per patient. This included 2519.4 euros of direct costs (medical visits: 459.9 euros, complementary tests: 685.6 euros, hospitalization days: 1026.7 euros, outpatient hospitalization: 27.5 euros, displacements: 148.2 euros and informal care: 171.5 euros), 2489.5 euros of indirect costs (days off work) and 3441.2 euros of intangible costs.
Conclusions: This is the first study in our country that analyses the socioeconomic impact of diagnosis of MS.
Total cost of MS diagnosis resulted 8450.1 euros per patient. Most contributors to the cost of diagnosis were hospitalization, days off work and intangible costs.
The impact of diagnosis on quality of life of patients is relevant.
|