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Cost-of-illness study in acromegalic patients in Italy

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Abstract

Introduction: acromegalic therapeutic goals are directed at removing the tumor, preventing tumor re-growth and reducing long-term morbidity and mortality. In this scenario, the acromegalic patient needs a variety of health resources (diagnostic tests, surgery, radiotherapy, specialist visits and drugs) for his/her cure, in order to decrease/stop the progression of the disease and to cure the co-morbid diseases. Lack of epidemiological data has suggested performing an Italian retrospective study aiming to assess the health resource consumption that is caused by acromegalic cure and the relative co-morbidities, in order to estimate the amount of the direct costs of acromegalic patients. Method: a retrospective study was performed on a total of 134 patients (142 patients selected, 76 in Genoa and 66 in Turin) for a period of about 7 yr preceding the enrolment date. Only direct costs were evaluated by performing an analysis on the perspective of Italian Healthcare Service (SSN). Results: the mean total direct costs for acromegaly cure ranged from 7.968,41 to 12.533,02 €/yr (p<0,01; Mann Whitney Test), respectively, for Responders and Non-Responders. The cost driver was drug (SS analogs) for acromegalic cure. The co-morbidity conditions associated to acromegalic Non-Responder patients are clearly higher than those with well-controlled disease. Conclusion: the study supports the hypothesis that controlled patients drove a saving for SSN in comparison to poor control patients that use more health resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Outcome Research Unit, NRHCO Department, Pfizer Italia, Via Valbondione 113, 00188, Rome, Italy

    G. Didoni PhD & P. Ruffo

  2. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    S. Grottoli, V. Gasco, F. Ragazzoni & E. Ghigo

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Genoa, Italy

    M. Battistini, D. Ferone, M. Giusti & F. Minuto

Authors
  1. G. Didoni PhD
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  2. S. Grottoli
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  3. V. Gasco
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  4. M. Battistini
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  5. D. Ferone
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  6. M. Giusti
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  7. F. Ragazzoni
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  8. P. Ruffo
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  9. E. Ghigo
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  10. F. Minuto
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Correspondence to G. Didoni PhD.

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Didoni, G., Grottoli, S., Gasco, V. et al. Cost-of-illness study in acromegalic patients in Italy. J Endocrinol Invest 27, 1034–1039 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345306

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345306

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