title: Cost of cystic fibrosis: analysis of treatment costs in a specialized center in northern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in cystic fibrosis (CF) therapy have resulted in improved survival and increasing treatment burden and costs. The economic impact of current treatment strategies for CF is poorly defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors prospectively assessed direct medical costs (including hospitalizations, outpatient interventions, drugs, devices, dietetic products) in 165 consecutive CF patients (aged 5-39 years) seen between March and July 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean annual cost/patient increased with age and lung disease severity from yy4,164 in children aged ≤5 years to yy30,123 in patients aged >5 years with severe lung disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] <40% of predicted). The increase in costs involved all items, with a progressive increase in cost attributed to hospitalizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of CF is associated with relevant cost for the Italian National Healthcare Service. Costs of illness tend to increase progressively with age, suggesting that increasing economic resources should be allocated to the treatment of CF, given the increasing number of patients surviving into adulthood.
authors: Cystic Fibrosis Centre-Fondazione IRCCS, Ca'Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Colombo
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Daccò
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Alicandro
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Loi
authors: Silvio
authors: S
authors: Mazzi
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Lucioni
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Ravasio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult