Estimation of the cost of MS in Europe: Extrapolations from a multinational cost study

¹ Department of Learning, Informatics, Information and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden and European Health Economics, SE-11120 Stockholm, Sweden
² Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Sassari, I-07100 Sassari, Italy
³ Eulerweg 4, D-64379 Griesheim, Germany
⁴ Lund University, Sweden and European Health Economics France, F-06530 Spéracedes, France

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

	Abstract

The present study aims at estimating the total cost of MS in Europe based on actual cost data from nine countries and published epidemiological evidence. The epidemiological data are reported as 12 months prevalence estimates and cost data calculated as annual cost per patient at given levels of disease severity. Cost data are extrapolated to the rest of Europe based on a model, using economic indexes adjusting for price level differences in different sectors between countries. The aggregated annual cost estimates are presented in Euro for 2005. In 28 European countries with a population of 466 million, an estimated 380 000 individuals are affected by MS. The total annual cost of MS in Europe is estimated at 12.5 billion in year 2005, corresponding to a cost of 27 per European inhabitant. Direct costs represent slightly more than half of the total cost (6.0 billion). Informal care is estimated at 3.2 billion, and indirect costs due to morbidity at 3.2 billion. Thus, the largest component of costs is found outside the formal health care sector. Although our model appears to predict costs reasonably well, when comparing to previous national studies not included in the estimates, there are considerable uncertainties when extrapolating cost data across countries even within Europe. These weaknesses can only be overcome by collecting primary data. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 00: 000-000. http://msj.sagepub.com

Key Words: cost; cost of illness; epidemiology; Europe; multiple sclerosis

First published on July 10, 2007, doi:10.1177/1352458507077941

Multiple Sclerosis 2007;13:1054.

A more recent version of this article appeared on September 1, 2007


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