A multicentre, retrospective study of resource utilization and costs associated with glaucoma management in France and Sweden.
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.
Lindblom
Bertil
B
Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.
Nordmann
Jean-Philippe
JP
Sellem
Eric
E
Chen
Enping
E
Gold
R
R
Polland
Werner
W
Williamson
W
W
Buchholz
Patricia
P
Walt
John G
JG
Groleau
Danielle
D
Curry
Alistair
A
Evans
Stacy J
SJ
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
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents