Healthcare costs factor high in Parkinson’s economic burden
Study shows lost productivity, patient financial burden also have an impact
Healthcare services contribute to nearly half the total expenses associated with Parkinson’s disease, but the loss of productivity and the financial burden on patients and their families also have a substantial impact, a study shows.
The study estimated the average annual cost per patient with Parkinson’s disease is about €21,000 (roughly $23,200), but can vary significantly depending on location and disease severity.
According to researchers, “reduced employment, government benefits, informal care, medication, nursing homes, and hospital inpatient care make up the largest share of [cost of illness in Parkinson’s disease].” The review study, “Systematic Review of the Cost of Illness of Parkinson’s Disease from a Societal Perspective,” was published in Movement Disorders.
Parkinson’s disease impacts patients’ quality of life, work capabilities, and ability to perform daily activities. The effects of the disease extend beyond the patients themselves, as families and caregivers also face challenges in providing care and support. Furthermore, the medical needs of people with Parkinson’s place a significant burden on healthcare systems.
The financial impact of Parkinson’s disease may be assessed in cost-of-illness studies, which identify and measure all costs that can be attributed to the disease. Most of these have focused on healthcare costs, “underestimating its effects on other sectors,” wrote researchers in the Netherlands who analyzed several studies to determine the costs related to the societal impact of Parkinson’s disease, including those related to healthcare, informal care, travel costs, and loss of productivity.
A breakdown of the cost of Parkinson’s
Seventeen studies from 2010-2023 were analyzed, representing data from the U.S., Australia, Brazil, and several European and Asian countries. Most involved 100-500 participants, with follow-ups that ranged from three months to 11 years, one year being the most common.
Twelve studies (71%) evaluated the economic impact of Parkinson’s through questionnaires that were complemented with chart reviews, patient interviews or diaries, and insurer data. Four studies used data from national registries and databases, while one combined data from national registries and a survey.
The average cost per patient per year was almost €21,000, or about $23,200, which would mean a worldwide total yearly cost of about €250 billion (about $277 billion). Costs varied significantly between geographic regions, however. For instance, the costs in North America were 3.6 times higher than in Asia.
Moreover, people with more advanced disease had 4.4 times higher costs than those in early disease stages. This was mainly linked to higher healthcare costs associated with the need for nursing homes, hospital inpatient care, and formal home care, along with informal care.
Healthcare expenses accounted for the largest part of the costs associated with Parkinson’s, making up 46.1%. Productivity loss ranked second at 37.4%, while costs borne by patients and their families accounted for 16.4% of the overall expenses.
The impact of each category varied significantly between different regions. For instance, in North America and Western Europe, healthcare costs were the main contributor, but productivity loss was the most relevant category in Asia.
Costs related to reduced employment, disability income or government benefits, informal care, medication, and nursing homes were the most important cost items measured in all studies.
“Our review shows that PD-COI [Parkinson’s disease cost-of-illness] is high and appears in various cost sectors, with strong variety in the cost items included in different studies. Therefore, a guideline for the measurement of COI in PD should be developed to harmonize this,” the researchers wrote.
About the Author
