[Cost of pharmacologic treatment and their determinants in ambulatory care of cystic fibrosis patients].

Life expectancy of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has improved following the introduction of modem therapies. Length of life has been most important determinant of cost of medical care in each population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost of pharmacologic treatment and their determinants served by patients and medical insurance. Medical records of our CF center patients from year 2003 were analysed. The annual cost of pharmacologic treatment in our patients in 2003 averaged PLN 26595.91; of total costs 74% were from DNase, 7% from drugs classified as "other", 6.2% from pancreatic enzymes. Individual annual costs served by patients averaged from PLN 979.67 to 10805.57 (mean PLN 6059.63). Mean annual cost "per patient" served by medical insurance averaged PLN 26595.91; 70% of costs were from DNase, 15% from inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. 68% of drug costs were served by medical insurance, 32% by patient. We found significant correlation between cost served by patients (p1), by medical insurance (p2) and age (p1, p2<0.0001) and severity of disease--defined based on percent expected FEV1 (p1=0.006; p2=0.001). Severity of disease and patients age were important determinants of pharmacologic treatment cost in CF patients.