Cost and health related quality of life consequences of multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To (i) quantify the cost of multiple sclerosis (MS) to the Canadian health care system and society; (ii) measure health utility in MS patients, and (iii) examine the influence of disability on patient utility and health care costs.


METHODS
A comprehensive patient survey and chart review of relapsing MS patients in remission, relapse and recalling a relapse.


RESULTS
Annual remission costs increased with EDSS level ($7596 at EDSS 1, $33 206 at EDSS 6). At all EDSS levels the largest costs were due to inability to work, which increased with EDSS. The average relapse cost for all EDSS levels was $1367. An inverse correlation was found between EDSS level and patient utility for patients in remission and relapse. The decrease in remission health utility from EDSS 1 to 6 was 0.24, which is 25% greater than the difference in health status between an average 25 and 85 year-old.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that MS produces substantial health care costs and reductions in patient quality of life and ability to work, losses that can be avoided or delayed if disease progression is slowed. These data provide health-care decision-makers with the opportunity to consider the full impact of MS when faced with budget allocation decisions.
Grima
D T
DT
Innovus Research Inc. 1016 A Sutton Drive, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7L 6B8.
Torrance
G W
GW
Francis
G
G
Rice
G
G
Rosner
A J
AJ
Lafortune
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction