PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 504 - 3 Jun 2006

Cost of ischaemic stroke inGermany expected to rise

First ischaemic stroke-related healthcare costs inGermany are expected to rise continuously until 2025,according to researchers from that country.

To estimate the direct costs* of first ischaemic strokeand the cost in each year poststroke, they conducted acost-of-illness study in patients with suspectedcerebrovascular disease, incorporating data from theErlangen Stroke Project. All costs were calculated in2004 values from the perspective of a third party payerand future costs were discounted at 3% per year.

The mean total direct cost among first-year survivorswas estimated at €18 517, of which rehabilitation costswere highest (37%). During years 2–5, the mean annualtotal direct cost per survivor was €5479, with outpatienttreatment accounting for the largest share (49%).Overall, the lifetime cost per ischaemic stroke was€43 129; men accounted for higher lifetime costs thanwomen (€45 549 vs €41 304). The total financialburden of first ischaemic stroke in 2004 was estimatedat €7.1 billion, of which outpatient treatment (40%),inpatient treatment (22%), rehabilitation (21%) andnursing (17%) were the major components. Nationalprojections for 2006–2025 showed an expected directcost of €108.6 billion overall (€51.5 billion in men;€57.1 billion in women).* All direct costs were aggregated into inpatient costs, outpatientcosts, rehabilitation costs and nursing costs.

Kolominsky-Rabas PL, et al. Lifetime cost of ischemic stroke in Germany: resultsand national projections from a population-based stroke registry: The ErlangenStroke Project. Stroke 37: 1179-1183, No. 5, May 2006 801065577

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 3 Jun 2006 No. 5041173-5503/10/0504-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved