Healthcare costs for MG high in 3 Nordic countries: Study
Patients with very severe symptoms had highest costs
The healthcare costs of myasthenia gravis (MG) are high, according to a study from Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, and even higher for women and patients with very severe symptoms or coexisting conditions such as mental health problems or severe infections.
A large portion of direct costs in all three Nordic countries came from hospital stays, whereas indirect costs resulted mainly from early retirement in Denmark and Finland, and sick leave in Sweden. The total per-patient costs were estimated to be higher than for asthma but lower than for multiple sclerosis.
“More data are needed to fully understand the cost structure of MG and its evolution at the population and individual levels, as the evidence remains limited compared with many other diseases with similar levels of clinical burden,” researchers wrote.
The study, “Economic and societal burden of myasthenia gravis in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden: A population-based registry study,” was published in the European Journal of Neurology.
MG is a chronic disease that occurs when self-reactive antibodies interfere with the normal communication between nerve cells and muscles, causing muscle weakness and fatigue. Its symptoms can range from mild to very severe, with some patients requiring frequent medical attention and treatments.
Healthcare spending varies based on healthcare system, symptom severity
Healthcare spending for MG can arise from direct costs, such as hospital stays and medications, and indirect costs, such as lost workdays. However, total costs can vary based on the country and its healthcare system or the severity of symptoms.
To get an idea of these costs in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, where the number of MG cases has been gradually increasing over the past couple of decades, the researchers collected registry data between 2000 and 2020 of adults who had been diagnosed with MG at least twice (to lower the risk of misclassification and the inclusion of false positives).
The study included 8,622 adults with MG in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. On average, people with MG in Denmark had 3.4 secondary healthcare contacts per year, compared to seven in Finland and 2.9 in Sweden.
The mean annual healthcare costs per patient were also different: €12,185 in Denmark, €9,036 in Finland, and €5,997 in Sweden, the equivalent to about $6,500 to $13,200. Hospital stays accounted for the largest part of these direct healthcare costs, especially since a high percentage of patients required inpatient care.
The majority of indirect costs resulted from early retirement in Denmark and Finland, and from sick leave due to disease in Sweden.
Patients with very severe symptoms had the highest costs, with annual expenses ranging from €19,570 to €33,495 (about $21,200-$36,300) per patient across the three countries. Women and people with coexisting conditions tended to have higher total costs.
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