title: A multicentre, retrospective study of resource utilization and costs associated with glaucoma management in France and Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess resource utilization and costs associated with glaucoma management in France and Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 267 patient records (121 in France, 146 in Sweden) with diagnoses of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OH), treated medically, were reviewed for a 2-year period (beginning during 1997-99) for relevant clinical and resource utilization data. Economic data were applied to estimate treatment costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual cost of treating glaucoma was estimated at SEK5305 (531 euro )/patient in Sweden and 390 euro/patient in France. In both countries, medication costs comprised about half of the total costs. Surgical procedures and hospitalizations represented greater proportions of total cost in France (7.0% and 9.6%, respectively) than in Sweden (3.7% and 0.6%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication costs represent a high proportion of total treatment costs. These findings highlight the relative importance of medical therapy and of assessing the cost-effectiveness of medications in glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindblom
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Nordmann
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sellem
authors.forename: Enping
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Polland
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Walt
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groleau
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Stacy J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents