Health resource utilization and the economic burden of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration in Thailand
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Supported by Novartis (Thailand) Ltd.; Thailand Research Fund through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (grant No. PHD/0356/2550 to PD).
Conflicts of Interest: Dilokthornsakul P, None; Chaiyakunapruk N, None; Ruamviboonsuk P, None; Ratanasukon M, None; Ausayakhun S, None; Tungsomeroengwong A, None; Pokawattana N, None; Chanatittarat C was an employee of Novartis (Thailand) Ltd at the time of conducting this study.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The authors would like to thank a number of clinical research nurses and physicians involved in the data collection at all sites.

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    Abstract:

    AIM:To determine healthcare resource utilization and the economic burden associated with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in ThailandMETHODS:This study included patients diagnosed with wet AMD that were 60 years old or older, and had best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured at least two times during the follow-up period. We excluded patients having other eye diseases. Two separate sub-studies were conducted. The first sub-study was a retrospective cohort study; electronic medical charts were reviewed to estimate the direct medical costs. The second sub-study was a cross-sectional survey estimating the direct non-medical costs based on face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. For the first sub-study, direct medical costs, including the cost of drugs, laboratory, procedures, and other treatments were obtained. For the second sub-study, direct non-medical costs, e.g. transportation, food, accessories, home renovation, and caregiver costs, were obtained from face-to-face interviews with patients and/or caregivers.RESULTS: For the first sub-study, sixty-four medical records were reviewed. The annual average number of medical visits was 11.1±6.0. The average direct medical costs were $3 604±4 530 per year. No statistically-significant differences of the average direct medical costs among the BCVA groups were detected (P=0.98). Drug costs accounted for 77% of total direct medical costs. For direct non-medical costs, 67 patients were included. Forty-eight patients (71.6%) required the accompaniment of a person during the out-patient visit. Seventeen patients (25.4%) required a caregiver at home. The average direct non-medical cost was $2 927±6 560 per year. There were no statistically-significant differences in the average costs among the BCVA groups (P=0.74). Care-giver cost accounted for 87% of direct non-medical costs.CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that wet AMD is associated with a substantial economic burden, especially concerning drug and care-giver costs.

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Piyameth Dilokthornsakul, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, Paisan Ruamviboonsuk, et al. Health resource utilization and the economic burden of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration in Thailand. Int J Ophthalmol, 2014,7(1):145-151

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Publication History
  • Received:April 09,2013
  • Revised:October 14,2013
  • Adopted:October 14,2013
  • Online: February 20,2014
  • Published: