Prevalence and costs of parkinsonian syndromes associated with orthostatic hypotension.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the frequency of and direct costs related to parkinsonian syndromes associated with orthostatic hypotension (OH).


METHODS
Patients over 45 years using at least one antiparkinsonian drug (excluding piribedil or anticholinergics prescribed alone) were identified from the Haute-Garonne Social Security prescription database and separated in two groups according to simultaneous prescription (OH group) or not (control group) of drugs for orthostatic hypotension. Direct medical costs were analysed retrospectively, over a 6-month period, from the health care payer's perspective.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight patients (9.1%) out of 971 parkinsonian also received antihypotensive drugs. Direct medical costs were significantly higher in OH than in control group (4.425 vs. 3.074 Euro/patient/6 months, p < 0.05). Beside hospitalisation and ancillary cares, drugs accounted for highest expenses (989 vs. 781 Euro/patient/6 months in control group) since use of controlled-release levodopa formulations or dopamine agonists was higher in OH group.


CONCLUSIONS
Occurrence of OH is associated with higher medical expenditure in parkinsonian syndromes.
Desboeuf
Karine
K
Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, INSERM U586, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse, France.
Grau
Maryse
M
Riche
Françoise
F
Fradin
Marc
M
Bez
Jacques
J
Montastruc
Jean-Louis
JL
Senard
Jean-Michel
JM
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017281:Cost of Illness; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents