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. 2016 Apr 16:17:168.
doi: 10.1186/s12891-016-1027-6.

Fibromyalgia-related costs and loss of productivity: a substantial societal burden

Anaïs Lacasse  1 , Patricia Bourgault  2   3 , Manon Choinière  4   5
Affiliations

Fibromyalgia-related costs and loss of productivity: a substantial societal burden

Anaïs Lacasse et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed at describing pain-related health care resource use, direct costs, and productivity loss among patients suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods: A cost-of-illness study with a sample of 57 adults having a diagnosis of FMS was conducted in the province of Quebec (Canada). Data regarding FMS-related direct costs and productivity loss from paid and unpaid work over a three-month period were collected using a standardized structured telephone interview protocol. Direct costs were valued in 2009 Canadian dollars using a societal perspective.

Results: Results showed that average direct costs over a three-month period added up to $951 per patient (SD: $710), which could be translated in a mean annual cost of $3804. The purchase of prescribed medications led to the highest costs (mean: $329, SD: $321), followed by consultations to health care professionals other than physicians (mean: $129, SD: $222) and physicians consultations (mean: $98, SD: $116). Results further showed a high economic burden for patients themselves, aside from costs covered by public or private insurers. Among the subsample of participants who had a paid job (45.6%), an average of 5.6 days (SD: 13.2) were lost due to pain during the past three months. Among those who were not employed (54.4%), an average of 25.1 days in household productivity (SD: 24.8) were lost.

Conclusions: FMS is associated with a substantial socioeconomic burden. Further research is clearly needed to improve the management of this type of disorder and make better decisions regarding resource allocation.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Cost of illness; Direct costs; Fibromyalgia; Productivity loss; Societal costs.

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