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Abstract #47831 Published in IGR 13-4
Cost of blindness in Austria
Brennig C; Schollbauer V; Walter EValue in Health 2011; 14: A504-A505
OBJECTIVES: Literature concerning epidemiology of blindness and with these disease patterns associated economic consequences is very rare. The aim of this analysis was to close this research deficit for Austria by evaluating the whole economic impact of blindness for the Austrian society using the incidence approach. METHODS: A model that captures all causes of blindness (AMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and other causes) was developed. We differentiated between age groups as well. Cost of illness comprises direct medical cost (treatment, consultations, devices, cost of depression, hip fractures etc.) and direct non-medical cost (adaption of housing facilities). Indirect cost are allowance for nursing care, cost for assisted living and productivity loss. The analysis was performed from a society's perspective. Cost are calculated from onset of blindness until death (reduced life expectancy due to blindness) (dicount rate 5%). The analysis was performed according to the Austrian Guidelines for Healtheconomic evaluations. RESULTS: In Austria every year 1160 (Incidence) people go blind. Total cost (direct and indirect) of blindness over all age groups value (euro)105.71 Mio. (incl. allowance for nursing care) over lifetime. Direct cost account for 3% of total cost ((euro)3.61 Mio.) and indirect cost for 97% ((euro)102.09 Mio.). Highest cost of blindness over lifetime can be found within the groups ,opticusatrophy' (18-39-year-old-patients) with 11.77 Mio., diabetic retinopathy' (60-79-year-old-patients) with cost of (euro)7.02 Mio, and, other causes' (18-39 year old patients) with (euro)33.80 Mio. CONCLUSIONS: A multitude of causes for blindness affects primarily older people. Demographic development will lead to an increase in blind people and therefore to a costly public health problem. Loosing eyesight is connected to high cost on the one hand and to a lower QOL for patients on the other hand. The analysis shows the high cost of blindness for the whole society in Austria.
C. Brennig. Institute for Pharmaeconomic Research, Vienna, Austria.
Classification:
14 Costing studies; pharmacoeconomics
