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Resource use and costs of treating acute cough/lower respiratory tract infections in 13 European countries: results and challenges

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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to estimate the resource use and cost of treating acute cough/lower respiratory tract infection (acute cough/LRTI) in 13 European countries, to explore reasons for differences in cost and to document the challenges that researchers face when collecting information on cost alongside multinational studies. Data on resource use and cost were collected alongside an observational study in 14 primary care networks across 13 European countries and a mean cost was generated for each network. The results show that the mean cost (standard deviation) of treating acute cough/LRTI in Europe ranged from €23.88 (34.67) in Balatonfüred (Hungary) to €116.47 (34.29) in Jonkoping (Sweden). The observed differences in costs were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Major cost drivers include general practitioner visits and drug costs in all networks, whilst differences in health systems and regional factors could account for differences in cost between networks. The major barrier to conducting multinational cost studies are barriers associated with identifying cost information.

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Acknowledgments

This study was undertaken alongside the genomics to combat resistance to antibiotics in community acquired lower respiratory tract infections in Europe (GRACE) study, which is funded by the European Union Framework six Programme. We would like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of all National Network Facilitators (NNFs) and National Network Coordinators NNCs in the 13 countries. We are also very grateful to the clinicians and patients who supported the study. We would also like to specially thank Ingolf Griebsch for his assistance in helping us identify sources of cost data in Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Economics Unit, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, Public Health Building, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Raymond Oppong & Joanna Coast

  2. Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Neuadd Merionydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, UK

    Kerry Hood, Jacqui Nuttall & Christopher C. Butler

  3. Health Policy Unit, Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, USA

    Richard D. Smith

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  1. Raymond Oppong
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  2. Joanna Coast
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  3. Kerry Hood
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  4. Jacqui Nuttall
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  5. Richard D. Smith
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  6. Christopher C. Butler
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Correspondence to Raymond Oppong.

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On behalf of the GRACE-01 Study Team.

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Oppong, R., Coast, J., Hood, K. et al. Resource use and costs of treating acute cough/lower respiratory tract infections in 13 European countries: results and challenges. Eur J Health Econ 12, 319–329 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-010-0239-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-010-0239-1

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