The distribution of the cost of multiple sclerosis in the UK: How do costs vary by illness severity?

Objectives: To derive robust estimates for the cost of multiple sclerosis (MS) based on a variety of cost factors across a number of different cost perspectives. This is essential to perform credible pharmacoeconomic evaluations of alternative MS therapies. Methods: Here we present a detailed analysis of previously published MS cost data for the UK to which we fit a seemingly unrelated regression. This allows us to assess the size and significance of different cost factors, and account for the covariance between cost perspectives. Results: We show that disability severity, disease type, relapse status, treatment type and time of treatment, sex, age, educational status, and time since diagnosis, are significant cost factors, with the significance of each dependent on the cost perspective chosen. Conclusions: This analysis provides a statistical model that may be used to better estimate individual patient costs across a range of demographic and cost perspectives, for use by health planners and in pharmacoeconomic evaluations.