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Economic impact of community-acquired and nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections in young children in Germany

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Abstract

Data on the economic burden of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in young children are lacking in Germany. The objective of the cost-of-illness study was to estimate the economic impact of community-acquired LRTI and nosocomial LRTI as well as of infections due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses (PIV) and influenza viruses (IV). The economic analysis is part of the PRI.DE study, a prospective, multi-centre, population-based epidemiological study on the impact of LRTI in children aged 0 to 36 months in Germany. The analysis includes children with community-acquired infections (1329 cases treated as outpatients, 2039 cases treated as inpatients) and nosocomial infections (90 cases). Medical services consumed were generated by chart abstraction and parental expenses data by telephone interviews within four weeks after physician visit or hospitalisation. Costs were evaluated from following perspectives: third party payer, parent and society. Total costs for outpatient treatment are €123 per LRTI case. Stratified by virus type, total costs per case are €163 (RSV), €100 (PIV) and €223 (IV). Total costs per hospitalised LRTI case amount to €2579. Stratified by virus type, total costs per case are €2772 (RSV), €2374 (PIV) and €2597 (IV). Total costs per nosocomial case are €2814. Economic burden due to LRTI is €213 million annually. It is concluded that treatment of LRTI in children up to age three causes a considerable economic burden in Germany. Presented results are the first data describing the economic burden of LRTI in young children assessed by means of the incidence data for Germany. This cost-of-illness study provides basic data for further decision-making, focusing on the economic assessment of preventive strategies for RSV, PIV and IV infections.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

CRF:

Case report form

IV:

Influenza virus

LRTI:

Lower respiratory tract infections

OTC:

Over the counter

PIV:

Parainfluenza virus

RSV:

Respiratory syncytial virus

TPP:

Third party payers

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Acknowledgements

PRI.DE study group: Hospitals: R Berner, M Brandis, S Hameister, I Kambeck, M Posselt, S Ruess, (Freiburg); J Bittscheidt, CHL Rieger, U Schauer, J Schwarze, V Stephan (Bochum); H Gurth, K Nemat, W Leupold (Dresden); N Alex, HD Frank, V Legner (Hamburg); Paediatric practices: W Jonitz, I Keefer-Hildebrand, A Neufang (Freiburg); D Hirsch, C Hoffman, U Staemmler, E Weber (Dresden); K Heemann, J Meyer, C Simon (Bochum); H Schloon, H Sontheimer (Hamburg); Virology: H Werchau (Ruhr-Universität, Bochum); Data Management: B Arnold (Freiburg); Project Management: S Merschkötter (Wyeth Münster). The PRI.DE study was financially supported by Wyeth GmbH, Münster, Germany. The Center for Clinical Trials receives funding by the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MERG, Medical Economics Research Group, Munich, Germany

    Birgit Ehlken & Barbara Lippert

  2. IMBI, Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Gabriele Ihorst & Martin Schumacher

  3. Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany

    Angela Rohwedder

  4. Wyeth, Muenster, Germany

    Gudula Petersen

  5. St. Joseph’s Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Johannes Forster

  6. Center for Clinical Trials, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Gabriele Ihorst

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  1. Birgit Ehlken
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  2. Gabriele Ihorst
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  4. Angela Rohwedder
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  5. Gudula Petersen
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  6. Martin Schumacher
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  7. Johannes Forster
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Correspondence to Birgit Ehlken.

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Ehlken, B., Ihorst, G., Lippert, B. et al. Economic impact of community-acquired and nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections in young children in Germany. Eur J Pediatr 164, 607–615 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-005-1705-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-005-1705-0

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