Economic burden of epilepsy in Australia
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Economic burden of epilepsy in Australia Epilepsy appears to be associated with a considerable economic burden in Australia, according to findings of a productivity-based analysis published in Neurology. Life-table modelling and published data on the prevalence of epilepsy and epilepsy-related productivity losses and mortality in Australia in 2017 were used to evaluate the societal and economic burden of epilepsy in working-age Australians (aged 15–69 years), over a time horizon of up to 70 years of age. Simulations included cohorts with uncontrolled epilepsy (30%) and controlled epilepsy (seizure-free; 70%), and a cohort without epilepsy. The prevalence of active epilepsy in working-age patients in 2017 was 101 646 (0.58%). It was estimated that working-age patients with epilepsy followed until 70 years of age would incur 14 053 more deaths than a similarly aged cohort without epilepsy, lose 78 143 life-years and 146 202 productivity-adjusted lifeyears, and account for a total of $22.1 billion* in lost gross domestic product (GDP). Patients with epilepsy would incur $2.8 billion more in direct healthcare costs than Australians without epilepsy. Scenario analysis estimated that increasing the proportion of seizure-free patients from 70% to 75% or 80% would save life-years and reduce healthcare costs, thereby retaining $2.6 billion and $5. 3 billion in GDP over their lifetime. "Our study highlights the considerable societal and economic burden of epilepsy," said the authors. "We hope that the estimated substantial economic return afforded by even a modest improvement in seizure freedom rates would incentivise greater investment from government and industry to develop new and more effective treatments for epilepsy and health systems," they commented. * 2017 US dollars Foster E, et al. The costs of epilepsy in Australia: A productivity-based analysis. Neurology 95: No. 11, 15 Sep 2020. Available from: URL: http://doi.org/10.1212/ WNL.0000000000010862
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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 3 Oct 2020 No. 863
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