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Health care utilization and costs for children and adults with duchenne muscular dystrophy
Author(s) -
Teoh Lucinda J.,
Geelhoed Elizabeth A.,
Bayley Klair,
Leonard Helen,
Laing Nigel G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24965
Subject(s) - duchenne muscular dystrophy , medicine , health care , socioeconomic status , neuromuscular disease , cross sectional study , muscular dystrophy , environmental health , physical therapy , gerontology , disease , population , pathology , economics , economic growth
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable neuromuscular disorder of childhood. Healthcare, caregiving, and other resource needs of affected individuals are thought to be substantial; however, the economic burden associated with DMD has not yet been assessed specifically in Australia. Methods Australian households with a child with DMD were asked to complete a cross‐sectional survey. Data were collected on annual resource utilization including hospital and medical services, equipment, home modifications, informal care, and working days lost. Results Mean healthcare costs were found to be $10,046 Australian dollars per affected individual and were markedly higher than average Australian health expenditures at each age group. The mean total cost was $46,700 (median $32,300), with healthcare costs contributing 22% of total costs. Conclusions The annual economic cost of DMD was found to be high, reflecting a significant socioeconomic burden, especially in boys who reach adulthood, where household resource use and caregiving burden is highest. Muscle Nerve 53 : 877–884, 2016