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The Economic Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Greece

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Abstract

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden on societies and patients due to the long-term management required.

Objective

To assess the economic burden of COPD in Greece and its potential determinants.

Methods

A population-based, random-digit dialled, telephone nationwide survey was conducted to recruit patients with COPD in Greece (N = 351). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The total annual cost per patient from a societal perspective was calculated.

Results

The mean (95% CI) annual total cost per patient for the management of COPD from a societal perspective was €2150 (€1879–€2443). The total annual cost was mainly driven by the medication cost (36.1%), followed by the cost of hospitalizations (26.7%) and long-term oxygen therapy (13.8%). Multiple generalized linear model revealed that age, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score and exacerbations were independently associated with the total annual cost.

Conclusion

Investment in interventions aiming at delaying progression of disease, preventing acute exacerbations, and managing chronic symptoms are required to reduce the overall economic burden of COPD in Greece.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EVROSTON LP, ChatzigianniMexi 5, 115 28, Athens, Greece

    Georgia Kourlaba

  2. Department of Critical Care of Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Georgios Hillas & Theodoros Vassilakopoulos

  3. Department Îżf Health Services Organization and Management, National School Îżf Public Health, Athens, Greece

    Nikos Maniadakis

Authors
  1. Georgia Kourlaba
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  2. Georgios Hillas
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  3. Theodoros Vassilakopoulos
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  4. Nikos Maniadakis
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Contributions

GK designed the study, conducted the analyses, interpreted the results, and wrote the manuscript. NM, GH, and TV contributed to questionnaire development, results interpretation, and manuscript writing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgia Kourlaba.

Ethics declarations

Data availability statement

The dataset along with the software code will be provided upon request.

Conflict of interest

The authors Georgia Kourlaba, Georgios Hillas, Theodoros Vassilakopoulos, and Nikos Maniadakis declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This study was funded by the Hellenic Thoracic Society.

Ethical approval

According to the Greek legislation (Law 2328/1995, Presidential Decree 310/1996, Law 3603/2007, Law 2472/1997, Law 3471/2006) there is no need for ethical approval for telephone surveys such the one presented here (Association of Opinion Polls and Survey Organisations—http://www.sedea.gr).

Informed consent

Verbal informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 705 kb)

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Cite this article

Kourlaba, G., Hillas, G., Vassilakopoulos, T. et al. The Economic Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Greece. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 17, 111–121 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-018-0431-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-018-0431-5

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