Cost of Epilepsy Higher Than Previous Estimates
Cost of Epilepsy Higher Than Previous Estimates
March 30, 2000 (Atlanta) -- As many as 44% of the people in the U.S. who have epilepsy -- more than 1 million people -- continue to have seizures, despite getting medical treatment, according to a report in the March issue of the journal Epilepsia.
These people, and others who have uncontrolled epilepsy, contribute disproportionately to the cost of treating the chronic disease, say researchers who found that patients with poor seizure control represented 25% of all cases, but accounted for up to 86% of all costs.
Patients with uncontrolled epilepsy racked up nearly $10,000 a year in direct medical costs, while patients with controlled cases had a tab of only about $2,000 a year. Study author Charles Begley, PhD, a health economist and associate professor of public health at the University of Texas in Austin, says controlling seizures may help reduce costs.
The annual cost of the estimated 2.3 million cases was projected to be $12.5 billion, with antiepilepsy drugs accounting for 30% of direct medical costs. Indirect costs, such as lost earnings and lost productivity, accounted for 85% of total costs and were significantly higher than 1975 estimates suggested, researchers say. The cost of diagnosis and treatment is likely to increase as the U.S. population ages.
Begley says most of the costs are incurred up front. "The data showed that high costs were incurred for diagnostic evaluation and initial treatment," he says. "But over three years, a downward trend reflected a large number of patients that achieved remission." Begley tells WebMD that older adults account for a large portion of direct medical costs.
"Older people had low indirect costs due to a shorter life expectancy and lower earnings," says Begley. "But older adults received more antiepilepsy drugs and were hospitalized more often. Given the increasing numbers of older Americans, direct care costs for the elderly are a major concern."
To evaluate the current economic impact, researchers calculated the direct costs of diagnosis and treatment from the medical bills of more than 600 new cases. The indirect costs of lost earnings and productivity were calculated from a survey of more than 1,200 patients in regional treatment centers. By applying U.S. population figures, the annual cost of epilepsy was estimated.
These people, and others who have uncontrolled epilepsy, contribute disproportionately to the cost of treating the chronic disease, say researchers who found that patients with poor seizure control represented 25% of all cases, but accounted for up to 86% of all costs.
Patients with uncontrolled epilepsy racked up nearly $10,000 a year in direct medical costs, while patients with controlled cases had a tab of only about $2,000 a year. Study author Charles Begley, PhD, a health economist and associate professor of public health at the University of Texas in Austin, says controlling seizures may help reduce costs.
The annual cost of the estimated 2.3 million cases was projected to be $12.5 billion, with antiepilepsy drugs accounting for 30% of direct medical costs. Indirect costs, such as lost earnings and lost productivity, accounted for 85% of total costs and were significantly higher than 1975 estimates suggested, researchers say. The cost of diagnosis and treatment is likely to increase as the U.S. population ages.
Begley says most of the costs are incurred up front. "The data showed that high costs were incurred for diagnostic evaluation and initial treatment," he says. "But over three years, a downward trend reflected a large number of patients that achieved remission." Begley tells WebMD that older adults account for a large portion of direct medical costs.
"Older people had low indirect costs due to a shorter life expectancy and lower earnings," says Begley. "But older adults received more antiepilepsy drugs and were hospitalized more often. Given the increasing numbers of older Americans, direct care costs for the elderly are a major concern."
To evaluate the current economic impact, researchers calculated the direct costs of diagnosis and treatment from the medical bills of more than 600 new cases. The indirect costs of lost earnings and productivity were calculated from a survey of more than 1,200 patients in regional treatment centers. By applying U.S. population figures, the annual cost of epilepsy was estimated.
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