Mizuno Yoshinobu, Yamada Masakazu, Shigeyasu Chika
Division for Vision Research, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Clin Ophthalmol. 2012;6:755-60. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S30625. Epub 2012 May 16.
This study was performed to estimate the annual direct cost incurred by dry eye patients, which includes expenses for treatment and drugs, as well as the cost of punctal plugs.
The study group consisted of 118 dry eye patients aged 20 years or older who visited any of the 15 medical care facilities that participated in this prospective cohort dry eye study. We estimated annual direct costs from outpatient medical records and survey questionnaires obtained from patients.
Of the total patients enrolled, 10 were men and 108 women, and their average age was 64.1 ± 11.2 years. The number of hospital visits made by patients was 5.8 ± 3.6 per year. Among those who used ophthalmic solutions, the numbers of bottles used per year were as follows: 32.1 ± 20.8 bottles of hyaluronic acid ophthalmic solution (87 patients), 53.1 ± 42.2 bottles of artificial tears (40 patients), and 33.2 ± 23.2 bottles of over-the-counter eyedrops (15 patients). In patients with punctal plugs, 4.1 ± 3.9 plugs were used annually. The annual drug cost was 32,000 ± 21,675 Japanese yen (323 ± 219 US dollars). The clinical cost was 16,318 ± 9961 Japanese yen (165 ± 101 US dollars). The total direct costs including punctal plug treatment amounted to 52,467 ± 38,052 Japanese yen (530 ± 384 US dollars).
Although treatment modalities for dry eye in Japan were different from those in the US and in European countries, the direct cost of dry eye patients in Japan was comparable with that reported in those countries. Considering the high prevalence of dry eye, the direct cost of this chronic condition may be significant.
本研究旨在估算干眼症患者每年产生的直接费用，其中包括治疗费用、药物费用以及泪点塞的费用。
研究组由118名年龄在20岁及以上的干眼症患者组成，这些患者前往参与这项前瞻性队列干眼症研究的15家医疗机构中的任何一家就诊。我们根据门诊病历和患者调查问卷估算年度直接费用。
在纳入的患者中，男性10名，女性108名，平均年龄为64.1±11.2岁。患者每年就诊次数为5.8±3.6次。在使用眼药水的患者中，每年使用的瓶数如下：透明质酸眼药水32.1±20.8瓶（87例患者），人工泪液53.1±42.2瓶（40例患者），非处方眼药水33.2±23.2瓶（15例患者）。使用泪点塞的患者每年使用4.1±3.9个泪点塞。年度药物费用为32,000±21,675日元（323±219美元）。临床费用为16,318±9961日元（165±101美元）。包括泪点塞治疗在内的总直接费用为52,467±38,052日元（530±384美元）。
尽管日本干眼症的治疗方式与美国和欧洲国家不同，但日本干眼症患者的直接费用与这些国家报告的费用相当。考虑到干眼症的高患病率，这种慢性病的直接费用可能相当可观。
