Begley C E, Annegers J F, Lairson D R, Reynolds T F
The University of Texas, Houston, School of Public Health, 77225, USA.
Epilepsy Res. 1999 Jan;33(1):39-55. doi: 10.1016/s0920-1211(98)00070-9.
Changes in treatment alternatives and the emphasis on cost containment and managed care have increased the interest in information on the cost of epilepsy. The last comprehensive cost study in the USA was in 1975. That study estimated the national cost of epilepsy at $3.6 billion for 2.1 million cases. On a per patient basis the 1975 figure represents $7440 in 1995 US dollars, $1150 (15%) for direct treatment-related costs and $6290 (85%) for indirect employment-related costs. Since then, various cost-of-illness (COI) studies in the USA and other countries have offered estimates ranging from $6000 to $15000 per patient per year, with percentages of direct and indirect cost varying greatly. To assist those interested in interpreting or producing cost information, this paper reviews the state of research on the cost of epilepsy and discusses several methodological issues. A comprehensive study begun in 1993 to update the 1975 estimates for the USA is also described. Recommendations are provided to stimulate discussion about the best methods to use in future research.
治疗方案的变化以及对成本控制和管理式医疗的重视，增加了人们对癫痫治疗成本信息的兴趣。美国上一次全面的成本研究是在1975年。该研究估计，210万例癫痫病例的全国成本为36亿美元。按每位患者计算，1975年的数字相当于1995年美元的7440美元，其中1150美元（15%）用于直接治疗相关成本，6290美元（85%）用于间接就业相关成本。从那时起，美国和其他国家的各种疾病成本（COI）研究给出的估计数为每位患者每年6000美元至15000美元不等，直接成本和间接成本的百分比差异很大。为帮助那些有兴趣解读或生成成本信息的人，本文回顾了癫痫成本的研究现状，并讨论了几个方法学问题。还介绍了1993年开始的一项全面研究，以更新美国1975年的估计数。文中给出了一些建议，以促进关于未来研究中最佳使用方法的讨论。
