Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease involves substantial health-care service and social benefit costs

Abstract

Introduction: The present study compared health care-related costs and the use of social benefits and transfer payments in participants with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and related the costs to the severity of the COPD.

Material and methods: Spirometry data from a cohort study performed in Denmark during 2004-2006 were linked with national register data that identified the costs of social benefits and health-care services. The cohort comprised 546 participants with COPD (forced expiratory volume in the first sec. (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio<0.7 following bronchodilator administration) and 3,995 without COPD (in addition, 9,435 invited participants were non-responders and 331 were excluded). The costs were adjusted for gender, age, co-morbidity and educational level.

Results: Health care-related costs were 4,779 (2,404-7,154) Danish kroner (DKK) higher for participants with COPD than for those without COPD, and 2,882 (556-5,208) DKK higher than for non-responders. The higher costs were mainly due to the cost of medicines and inpatient care. The health-care costs increased with disease severity Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD grade). In participants<65 years of age, the annual cost of social benefits and transfer payments was 15,901 (5,966-25,837) DKK higher and the total costs were 20,454 (7,559-33,350) DKK higher in those with COPD than in those without COPD; this was due mostly to the high cost of dis-ability pensions.

Conclusion: Health care-related costs and costs for social benefits and transfer payments were higher for participants with COPD than for non-COPD participants and non-responders.

Funding: This study was supported by The Obel Family Foundation, The Danish Lung Association and The Health Insurance Foundation.

Trial registration: Not relevant.