RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To obtain Western European perspectives on the economic burden of atherothrombosis in patients with multiple risk factors only (MRF), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and in the under-evaluated group of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we examined vascular-related hospitalisation rates and associated costs in France and Germany. DESIGN: The prospective REACH Registry enrolled 4693 patients in France, and 5594 patients in Germany (from December 2003 until June 2004). METHODS: For each country, 2-year rates and costs associated with cardiovascular events and vascular-related hospitalisations were examined for patients with MRF, CVD, CAD, and PAD. RESULTS: Two-year hospitalisation costs were highest for patients with PAD (3182.1 for France; 2724.4 for Germany) and lowest for the MRF group (749.1 for France; 503.3 for Germany). Peripheral revascularizations and amputations were the greatest contributors to costs for all risk groups. Across all PAD subgroups, peripheral procedures constituted approximately half of the 2-year costs. CONCLUSION: Hospitalisation rates and costs associated with atherothrombotic disease in France and Germany are high, especially so for patients with PAD.
