The economic burden of epilepsy in a sample of people with epilepsy in China

Purpose: Epilepsy causes a significant burden to both patients as well as society. The primary aim of this study was to calculate the factual excess costs of epilepsy in China in order to provide essential information regarding the treatment of the epilepsy for both individuals and society as a whole. Methods: This study was performed on a retrospective cohort of medically treated patients. Data collected from 500 patients were analyzed in a standardized format, and included clinical characteristics, utilization of sources as well as the associated costs of epilepsy. Results: Based on our analyses, a modest estimate of the direct cost of epilepsy in China is roughly RMB 3860 (USD 594) per person per year. The main expenditures included treatment cost followed by the cost of living and inpatient care. The cost of informal treatment accounted for roughly 41% of all costs. The excess expenditures were similar for gender and the living place; however, our findings suggest that the composition proportions were different. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that epilepsy has a significant impact on individual medical expenditure, and places a heavy economic burden to both patients and the nation of China. Therefore, appropriate treatment and management of epilepsy must be assessed not only to increase quality of life, but also to consider the financial implications of the prescribed treatments for this disease. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.