Economic burden of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: DISCOVER study

Abstract

Direct costs; Progressive multiple sclerosis; Socioeconomic burden

Costos directes; Esclerosi múltiple progressiva secundària; Càrrega socioeconòmica

Costos directos; Esclerosis múltiple progresiva secundaria; Carga socioeconómica

Background To estimate the socioeconomic burden of people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS), considering direct health care, direct non-health care, and indirect costs, and to evaluate the relationship between costs and patients’ functional outcomes. Methods Observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study with retrospective real-life clinical practice data collection from pwSPMS visiting the neurology services of 34 hospitals during 2019–2020. Clinical data included Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, number of relapses, magnetic resonance imaging, disease-modifying treatment (DMT), symptoms, and comorbidities from 24 months before the study visit. Resource use and allied costs were collected 12 months before the study visit. Patient-reported outcomes, functional and cognitive scales were also collected. Results 70% of pwSPMS used primary care services, and nearly 50% needed assistance in a daycare or rehabilitation center. Almost 60% of the participants were receiving DMT at the study visit, and 80% needed support for domestic/housekeeping tasks. More than 90% were inactive at work, with nearly 80% taking early retirement. The estimated total annual cost per pwSPMS in Spain was almost €41,500, of which more than 50% (€21,400) were indirect costs, followed by direct health care costs (30%, €11,300), and, finally, direct non-health care costs (about 20%, €8,800). Older patients with severe disabilities and worse functional outcomes incurred higher costs. Conclusions SPMS is a major burden on health care systems, patients, and society as a whole. Health care and societal policies should be aimed at improving the SPMS care pathway and minimizing patients’ funding of direct non-health care costs. Trial registration The trial is a non-interventional study. The NCC code is CBAF312AES01/NOV-EMS-2019–01.

This study was funded by Novartis Farmacéutica, S.A. The funder had the following involvement with the study: study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish and preparation of the manuscript.