[The direct costs of epilepsy in a Chilean population]. / Costes directos de la epilepsia en una población chilena.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy Chilean prevalence is 17-21/1,000 inhabitants. In past years, there is concern for the high costs involved in its handling. AIM. To estimate the direct costs of treatment and handling in specific population with epilepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective study, in 6 groups of people with epilepsy: recent diagnosis (RD), remission (R), occasional seizures (OS), active without resistance to drugs (AWRD), resistance to pharmacological treatment (RPT), and epilepsy surgery (S). Data and characteristics tabulation and economical study of each group were made, considering 1 year of treatment. A comparison was made between them and their average in relation to international data. RESULTS: 293 patients. 52% male. 76% adults. 25% students. 55% focal seizures. Costs per group: (USD/patient/year): RD, 443; R, 316; OS, 430; AWRD, 711; RPT, 946; S, 4,262. Direct average cost of treatment for epilepsy in this population: 615 USD/patient/year. CONCLUSIONS: When differentiating in groups of individuals with epilepsy, the highest average annual cost is in surgery and the lowest in remission. In all the groups, except for surgery one, the highest expense is in drugs (average 81%). In relation to other countries, our direct costs are 5 times lower than in some developed countries and 3.5 times higher than in other developing countries. This data is of interest to governmental and financial spheres, so to provide a better quality of life for people with epilepsy, lowering costs and fees for their treatment and contributing to epilepsy and surgery national programs.

Costes directos de la epilepsia en una población chilena / The direct costs of epilepsy in a chilean population

Introducción. La prevalencia de la epilepsia en Chile es de 17-21/1.000 habitantes. Últimamente ha habido preocupación por los costes en su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Objetivo. Calcular los costes directos del tratamiento de una determinada población chilena con epilepsia. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo en seis grupos de pacientes: diagnóstico reciente (DR), remisión (R), crisis ocasionales (CO), activos sin resistencia a fármacos (ASRF), resistencia al tratamiento con fármacos (RTF) y cirugía de la epilepsia (C). Se tabularon datos clínicos y económicos por grupo, considerando un año de tratamiento, además de su comparación entre ellos y su promedio respecto a datos internacionales. Resultados. Hubo 293 pacientes, 52% masculinos, 76% adultos, 25% estudiantes; 16% con trabajo estable; 55% con crisis focales. Los costes promedios por grupos, calculados en dólares estadounidenses (USD)/paciente/año, fueron los siguientes: DR, 443; R, 316; CO, 430; ASRF, 711; RTF, 946; C, 4.262. Conclusiones. El coste más elevado en cada grupo, excepto el quirúrgico, fueron fármacos, con un promedio de 81%. El coste directo promedio grupal fue de 615 USD/paciente/año. En los costes promedios anuales por grupos, el mayor es el de cirugía, y el menor, el de remisión, debido al menor uso de medicamentos, exámenes y consultas. Nuestros costes directos son 5 veces menores que algunos países desarrollados y 3,5 veces superiores que otras naciones en vía de desarrollo. Estos datos pueden contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida de personas con epilepsias, optimizando costes y tarifas, ayudando a programas nacionales de epilepsia y cirugía de la epilepsia

Introduction. Epilepsy Chilean prevalence is 17-21/1,000 inhabitants. In past years, there is concern for the high costs involved in its handling. Aim. To estimate the direct costs of treatment and handling in specific population with epilepsy. Patients and methods. It is a retrospective study, in 6 groups of people with epilepsy: recent diagnosis (RD), remission (R), occasional seizures (OS), active without resistance to drugs (AWRD), resistance to pharmacological treatment (RPT), and epilepsy surgery (S). Data and characteristics tabulation and economical study of each group were made, considering 1 year of treatment. A comparison was made between them and their average in relation to international data. Results. 293 patients. 52% male. 76% adults. 25% students. 55% focal seizures. Costs per group: (USD/patient/year): RD, 443; R, 316; OS, 430; AWRD, 711; RPT, 946; S, 4,262. Direct average cost of treatment for epilepsy in this population: 615 USD/patient/year. Conclusions. When differentiating in groups of individuals with epilepsy, the highest average annual cost is in surgery and the lowest in remission. In all the groups, except for surgery one, the highest expense is in drugs (average 81%). In relation to other countries, our direct costs are 5 times lower than in some developed countries and 3.5 times higher than in other developing countries. This data is of interest to governmental and financial spheres, so to provide a better quality of life for people with epilepsy, lowering costs and fees for their treatment and contributing to epilepsy and surgery national programs