Prospective study of the direct and indirect costs of idiopathic Parkinson's disease

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder that remains refractory to curative treatment. Most patients are afflicted for many years, and the disease frequently results in severe physical handicap. Statements on the considerable cost of treatment are largely based on estimates and retrospective studies. To obtain more substantial data, we conducted a 3-year study of the economic aspects. Direct and indirect costs incurred by 117 patients (78 male, mean age 67.5 years) at the Deutsche Klinik fur Diagnostik in Wiesbaden, Germany, were prospectively followed. The average cost per patient and month ran to EURO 1007.55. Of that, direct costs amounted to EURO 603.33 (55.9%), with drugs taking up the major share at EURO 480.23. Indirect costs were EURO 404.22 per patient and month, with 76% thereof related to nursing care and the incapacity to earn a living. Cost increased in proportion to Hoehn and Yahr stage, declining again with stages 4 and 5. The data we gathered confirm that Parkinsonism is responsible for sizeable expenses for not only the treating unit but the national economy as a whole.