Economic burden of Parkinson's disease in Singapore.
BACKGROUND
This study was carried out to evaluate the economic burden of Parkinson's disease (PD) and factors independently associated with individual components of total cost in Singapore.


METHODS
A consecutive sample of 195 patients with PD (mean age: 68.2, men: 51.8%) attending a tertiary neuroscience clinic were identified and interviewed using standardized questionnaires including a financial burden questionnaire, two Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) questionnaires and the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.


RESULTS
Annual total cost of PD from a societal perspective was SGD11345 (USD10129) per patient, with direct cost accounted for 38.5% and indirect cost 61.5%. The main cost components for direct medical cost, direct non-medical cost, and indirect cost was pharmacotherapy (50.4%), home care (76.1%), and productivity loss (97.9%), respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis, higher education, younger age and longer duration of PD were associated with higher total cost.


CONCLUSIONS
Parkinson's disease exerts a considerable burden on patients, health care system and society in Singapore. As productivity loss accounts for a large share of the economic burden imposed by PD, treatments and health care programmes with potential for returning patients to higher productivity are urgently needed.
Zhao
Y J
YJ
Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Tan
L C S
LC
Li
S C
SC
Au
W L
WL
Seah
S H
SH
Lau
P N
PN
Luo
N
N
Wee
H L
HL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000191:economics*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012846:Singapore