title: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease involves substantial health-care service and social benefit costs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study compared health care-related costs and the use of social benefits and transfer payments in participants with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and related the costs to the severity of the COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spirometry data from a cohort study performed in Denmark during 2004-2006 were linked with national register data that identified the costs of social benefits and health-care services. The cohort comprised 546 participants with COPD (forced expiratory volume in the first sec. (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio<0.7 following bronchodilator administration) and 3,995 without COPD (in addition, 9,435 invited participants were non-responders and 331 were excluded). The costs were adjusted for gender, age, co-morbidity and educational level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health care-related costs were 4,779 (2,404-7,154) Danish kroner (DKK) higher for participants with COPD than for those without COPD, and 2,882 (556-5,208) DKK higher than for non-responders. The higher costs were mainly due to the cost of medicines and inpatient care. The health-care costs increased with disease severity Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD grade). In participants<65 years of age, the annual cost of social benefits and transfer payments was 15,901 (5,966-25,837) DKK higher and the total costs were 20,454 (7,559-33,350) DKK higher in those with COPD than in those without COPD; this was due mostly to the high cost of dis-ability pensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care-related costs and costs for social benefits and transfer payments were higher for participants with COPD than for non-COPD participants and non-responders.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study was supported by The Obel Family Foundation, The Danish Lung Association and The Health Insurance Foundation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Not relevant.
authors: Research Unit for General Practice in The North Jutland Region and School of Public Health, Aarhus University, and Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Algade 11, 9300 Sæby, Denmark. mbj@rn.dk
authors: Martin Bach
authors: MB
authors: Jensen
authors: Morten
authors: M
authors: Fenger-Grøn
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Fonager
authors: Øyvind
authors: Ø
authors: Omland
authors: Anker Lund
authors: AL
authors: Vinding
authors: Jens Georg
authors: JG
authors: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000191:economics*; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics*; D013147:Spirometry