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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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