Economic burden of epilepsy in a developing country: a retrospective cost analysis in China.

PURPOSE: To study the cost of epilepsy in China, and, therefore, provide essential information on the burden of the disease to individuals and society.

METHODS: A cost-of-illness study was performed on a retrospective cohort of medically treated patients. Data on clinical characteristics, utilization of sources, and costs were collected from 289 patients in a standardized format.

RESULTS: Direct medical care costs was Chinese yuan, renminbi (RMB) 2,529 (USD 372) per year per patient, of which antiepileptic drugs (RMB 1,651 or USD 243) accounted for the major cost component. Nonmedical direct costs were much less than direct health care costs, averaging approximately RMB 756 (USD 111). Costs due to loss of productivity averaged approximately RMB 1,968 (USD 289) per patient per year. Taken together, the overall mean annual cost for epilepsy per patient in our series was approximately RMB 5,253 (USD 773), and these costs accounted for more than half of the mean annual income. Total cost was significantly associated with disease severity and different responses to drug treatment. In addition, new antiepileptic drugs and the number of drugs taken were closely related with the drug cost.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the economic burden of epilepsy to both Chinese patients and the nation is heavy, and the composition proportions of the costs in China have many similar features and some noteworthy differences with that of other countries.