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. 2021 Feb;303(2):521-531.
doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05841-7. Epub 2020 Oct 29.

Macromastia: an economic burden? A disease cost analysis based on real-world data in Germany

Sebastian M Jud  1 , Anne Brendle-Behnisch  1 , Carolin C Hack  1 , Caroline Preuss  1 , Andreas Arkudas  2 , Raymund E Horch  2 , Matthias W Beckmann  1 , Michael P Lux  3
Affiliations

Macromastia: an economic burden? A disease cost analysis based on real-world data in Germany

Sebastian M Jud et al. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: Symptomatic macromastia causes physical and psychological problems that can lead to restrictions in the patients' social and working lives and a reduced quality of life. Associated medical treatments also have a considerable impact on health-care costs. Several studies have assessed these costs, but the total disease costs of macromastia have never been evaluated on the basis of real-world data.

Methods: The data for 76 patients who underwent reduction mammoplasty between 2008 and 2016 were collected using a two-part questionnaire (preoperative and postoperative), as well as the patient files. Topics surveyed, besides demographic data, included physician visits, medical imaging, medical procedures, medical treatments, rehabilitation and convalescent measures, drug intake, medical aids, exercise activity, and sick leave days before surgery, to calculate the costs per year of conservative treatment of symptomatic macromastia.

Results: The mean time from start of symptoms to surgery was 11.82 years. The data for this group of patients with symptomatic macromastia show that costs per patient amount to €1677.55 per year. These costs include medical consultation, radiological imaging, medical treatments and procedures, physical therapy and rehabilitation, medication, special brassieres, exercise classes costs for sick leave due to problems with macromastia, and travel expenses.

Conclusions: These results show that considerable health-care costs arise due to macromastia with conservative treatment. Overall, macromastia costs €1677.55 per patient/year. In particular, lost productivity due to sick days and the costs of physiotherapy are factors driving the high costs.

Keywords: Breast reduction mammoplasty; Conservative treatment; Disease costs; Gigantomastia; Health care; Macromastia.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare to have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patient selection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Proportion of costs per patient for treating the symptoms of macromastia on total annual costs of €1677 (€)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Supplementary concepts