Direct Costs, DMTs Major Driver of Economic Burden of Multiple Sclerosis in the United States

Disease-modifying therapies appear to be a major driver of costs associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States, according to a poster abstract presented at AMCP Nexus 2022.

“[The] United States is amongst the countries with the highest prevalence of MS, with 288 cases per 100,000 population,” wrote researchers. “MS poses a significant economic burden to patients and health care systems in the United States.”

To provide an up-to-date look at the financial burden posed by MS in the United States, researchers conducted a systematic literature review of 59 studies that investigated cost, resource use, and work productivity.

Direct costs associated with MS ranged from $23,434 to $72,744, with disease-modifying therapies accounting for as much as 86% of direct costs, according to study findings. Indirect costs ranged from $9122 to $30,601. Absenteeism, early retirement, and informal care were key drivers of indirect costs.

Compared with patients with mild disability, patients with severe disability and patients with relapses had significantly higher costs, resource use, and work impairment, the study found.

“In the United States, direct costs, particularly disease-modifying therapies, appear to be the major cost drivers for patients with MS,” concluded researchers. “Availability of lower cost therapies may considerably decrease the economic burden on these patients and the health care systems.”

Reference:
Schauf M, Chinthapatla H, Dimri S, Edward L, Hartung D. Economic burden of multiple sclerosis in the United States: a systematic literature review.  J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022;28(10-a suppl):S1-S137. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.10-a.s1