Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 111-118 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Applied Health Economics and Health Policy |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 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
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- Economics and Econometrics
- Medicine(all)
- Health Policy
Sustainable Development Goals
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Vol. 8, No. 2, 03.2010, p. 111-118.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
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 -