Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Daniela Eidt-Koch
  • Thomas O.F. Wagner
  • Thomas Mittendorf
  • J. Matthias Graf Von Der Schulenburg

External Research Organisations

  • Goethe University Frankfurt
View graph of relations

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)111-118
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Health Economics and Health Policy
Volume8
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2010

Abstract

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients need specialized long-term treatment. In order to support lung function, pharmaceuticals such as bronchodilators, mucolytic agents or anti-inflammatory drugs have to be used. Oral, inhaled or intravenous antibacterial therapy is of special importance for patients who have problems with chronic bacterial colonization of the lung and airways. In case of pancreatic insufficiency, digestive enzymes have to be substituted with every meal. Furthermore, patients often need additional supplements of vitamins as well as high caloric food. All of these aspects lead to high medication use in CF patients. Objective: To analyse outpatient medication costs for CF in Germany from a sickness funds perspective (plus some out-of-pocket payments by patients). Methods: Medication data were evaluated from seven different outpatient CF centres. Data were recorded via medication lists by the physicians, reporting name of medication, dosage and pharmaceutical form. As the medications are mostly used long term, resource use was valued using the largest available package sizes. Prices were taken from the German Rote Liste with year 2006 values. Annual and daily medication costs were analysed for different age groups. In addition, cost-influencing factors were analysed via correlation analyses. Results: A total of 3150 pharmaceutical records from 301 CF patients were collected. Mean annual costs for medication were h21 603 per patient (range h69104 477). Correlation analyses showed significant correlations between costs of medication and age, co-morbidities (such as pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes mellitus) and clinical parameters such as bacterial colonization of the lung, as well as functional parameters (percent of vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximal expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity). For example, mean annual costs for medication were h23 815 and h14 884 for patients with and without bacterial colonization of the lung, respectively. Other correlation factors yielded similar cost dispersions between patients with and without the factors.

Keywords

    Cost-analysis, Cystic-fibrosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany. / Eidt-Koch, Daniela; Wagner, Thomas O.F.; Mittendorf, Thomas et al.
In: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Vol. 8, No. 2, 03.2010, p. 111-118.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Eidt-Koch, D, Wagner, TOF, Mittendorf, T & Graf Von Der Schulenburg, JM 2010, 'Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany', Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 111-118. https://doi.org/10.2165/11313980-000000000-00000
Eidt-Koch, D., Wagner, T. O. F., Mittendorf, T., & Graf Von Der Schulenburg, J. M. (2010). Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 8(2), 111-118. https://doi.org/10.2165/11313980-000000000-00000
Eidt-Koch D, Wagner TOF, Mittendorf T, Graf Von Der Schulenburg JM. Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. 2010 Mar;8(2):111-118. doi: 10.2165/11313980-000000000-00000
Eidt-Koch, Daniela ; Wagner, Thomas O.F. ; Mittendorf, Thomas et al. / Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany. In: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. 2010 ; Vol. 8, No. 2. pp. 111-118.
Download
@article{c8beb5b1e44a487d95938f8b9ad5bf0d,
title = "Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany",
abstract = "Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients need specialized long-term treatment. In order to support lung function, pharmaceuticals such as bronchodilators, mucolytic agents or anti-inflammatory drugs have to be used. Oral, inhaled or intravenous antibacterial therapy is of special importance for patients who have problems with chronic bacterial colonization of the lung and airways. In case of pancreatic insufficiency, digestive enzymes have to be substituted with every meal. Furthermore, patients often need additional supplements of vitamins as well as high caloric food. All of these aspects lead to high medication use in CF patients. Objective: To analyse outpatient medication costs for CF in Germany from a sickness funds perspective (plus some out-of-pocket payments by patients). Methods: Medication data were evaluated from seven different outpatient CF centres. Data were recorded via medication lists by the physicians, reporting name of medication, dosage and pharmaceutical form. As the medications are mostly used long term, resource use was valued using the largest available package sizes. Prices were taken from the German Rote Liste with year 2006 values. Annual and daily medication costs were analysed for different age groups. In addition, cost-influencing factors were analysed via correlation analyses. Results: A total of 3150 pharmaceutical records from 301 CF patients were collected. Mean annual costs for medication were h21 603 per patient (range h69104 477). Correlation analyses showed significant correlations between costs of medication and age, co-morbidities (such as pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes mellitus) and clinical parameters such as bacterial colonization of the lung, as well as functional parameters (percent of vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximal expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity). For example, mean annual costs for medication were h23 815 and h14 884 for patients with and without bacterial colonization of the lung, respectively. Other correlation factors yielded similar cost dispersions between patients with and without the factors.",
keywords = "Cost-analysis, Cystic-fibrosis",
author = "Daniela Eidt-Koch and Wagner, {Thomas O.F.} and Thomas Mittendorf and {Graf Von Der Schulenburg}, {J. Matthias}",
note = "Funding Information: The study was funded by the Mukoviszidose e.V, the German Cystic Fibrosis Association. Thomas O.F. Wagner is a board member of, and has received grants from, the Mukoviszidose e.V. However, the research for this study was independent of this relationship and of the funding as the authors at all times had full authority over the outcomes and the preparation of the manuscript.",
year = "2010",
month = mar,
doi = "10.2165/11313980-000000000-00000",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
pages = "111--118",
number = "2",

}

Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Outpatient medication costs of patients with cystic fibrosis in Germany

AU - Eidt-Koch, Daniela

AU - Wagner, Thomas O.F.

AU - Mittendorf, Thomas

AU - Graf Von Der Schulenburg, J. Matthias

N1 - Funding Information: The study was funded by the Mukoviszidose e.V, the German Cystic Fibrosis Association. Thomas O.F. Wagner is a board member of, and has received grants from, the Mukoviszidose e.V. However, the research for this study was independent of this relationship and of the funding as the authors at all times had full authority over the outcomes and the preparation of the manuscript.

PY - 2010/3

Y1 - 2010/3

N2 - Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients need specialized long-term treatment. In order to support lung function, pharmaceuticals such as bronchodilators, mucolytic agents or anti-inflammatory drugs have to be used. Oral, inhaled or intravenous antibacterial therapy is of special importance for patients who have problems with chronic bacterial colonization of the lung and airways. In case of pancreatic insufficiency, digestive enzymes have to be substituted with every meal. Furthermore, patients often need additional supplements of vitamins as well as high caloric food. All of these aspects lead to high medication use in CF patients. Objective: To analyse outpatient medication costs for CF in Germany from a sickness funds perspective (plus some out-of-pocket payments by patients). Methods: Medication data were evaluated from seven different outpatient CF centres. Data were recorded via medication lists by the physicians, reporting name of medication, dosage and pharmaceutical form. As the medications are mostly used long term, resource use was valued using the largest available package sizes. Prices were taken from the German Rote Liste with year 2006 values. Annual and daily medication costs were analysed for different age groups. In addition, cost-influencing factors were analysed via correlation analyses. Results: A total of 3150 pharmaceutical records from 301 CF patients were collected. Mean annual costs for medication were h21 603 per patient (range h69104 477). Correlation analyses showed significant correlations between costs of medication and age, co-morbidities (such as pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes mellitus) and clinical parameters such as bacterial colonization of the lung, as well as functional parameters (percent of vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximal expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity). For example, mean annual costs for medication were h23 815 and h14 884 for patients with and without bacterial colonization of the lung, respectively. Other correlation factors yielded similar cost dispersions between patients with and without the factors.

AB - Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients need specialized long-term treatment. In order to support lung function, pharmaceuticals such as bronchodilators, mucolytic agents or anti-inflammatory drugs have to be used. Oral, inhaled or intravenous antibacterial therapy is of special importance for patients who have problems with chronic bacterial colonization of the lung and airways. In case of pancreatic insufficiency, digestive enzymes have to be substituted with every meal. Furthermore, patients often need additional supplements of vitamins as well as high caloric food. All of these aspects lead to high medication use in CF patients. Objective: To analyse outpatient medication costs for CF in Germany from a sickness funds perspective (plus some out-of-pocket payments by patients). Methods: Medication data were evaluated from seven different outpatient CF centres. Data were recorded via medication lists by the physicians, reporting name of medication, dosage and pharmaceutical form. As the medications are mostly used long term, resource use was valued using the largest available package sizes. Prices were taken from the German Rote Liste with year 2006 values. Annual and daily medication costs were analysed for different age groups. In addition, cost-influencing factors were analysed via correlation analyses. Results: A total of 3150 pharmaceutical records from 301 CF patients were collected. Mean annual costs for medication were h21 603 per patient (range h69104 477). Correlation analyses showed significant correlations between costs of medication and age, co-morbidities (such as pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes mellitus) and clinical parameters such as bacterial colonization of the lung, as well as functional parameters (percent of vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximal expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity). For example, mean annual costs for medication were h23 815 and h14 884 for patients with and without bacterial colonization of the lung, respectively. Other correlation factors yielded similar cost dispersions between patients with and without the factors.

KW - Cost-analysis

KW - Cystic-fibrosis

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77649151721&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.2165/11313980-000000000-00000

DO - 10.2165/11313980-000000000-00000

M3 - Article

C2 - 20175589

AN - SCOPUS:77649151721

VL - 8

SP - 111

EP - 118

JO - Applied Health Economics and Health Policy

JF - Applied Health Economics and Health Policy

SN - 1175-5652

IS - 2

ER -