title: Cost of multiple sclerosis in the Czech Republic: the COMS study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information about cost of multiple sclerosis (MS) is available from a number of European countries, but no data from the Czech Republic have been published so far.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to establish the cost of MS in the Czech Republic, overall and by level of disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on demographics, disease history, resource consumption and production losses were collected from 909 patients recruited in 7 MS centres in the Czech Republic. Annual costs were estimated in the societal perspective, using 2007 unit costs. To evaluate the relationship between disability and costs, patients were stratified into those with mild (67%), moderate (27%) and severe (10%) disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total annual costs per patient were €12,272, of which 51% were direct medical costs, 4% direct non-medical costs and 45% indirect costs. The average annual costs in patients with mild, moderate and severe disability amounted to €9905, €14,064 and €22,880, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The total costs of MS in the Czech Republic are estimated at €208.6 million per year. Consistent with other studies, the costs increase significantly with the severity of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Charles University in Prague, 1 Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. blahova.dusankova@gmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blahova Dusankova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalincik
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dolezal
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kobelt
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Havrdova
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017281:Cost of Illness; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016527:Drug Costs; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics; D010415:Pensions; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000191:economics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D013997:Time Factors