HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Correspondence: View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Frenzen, P. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Frenzen, P. D.

Economic cost of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the United States

From Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Frenzen, Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-5831 pfrenzen{at}ers.usda.gov

Objective: This study estimated the annual economic cost of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the United States in 2004, including the direct costs of medical care and the indirect costs due to lost productivity and premature death.

Methods: The cost-of-illness method was used to determine the costs of medical care and lost productivity, and a modified value of a statistical life approach was used to determine the cost of premature deaths. Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the Compressed Mortality File, a telephone survey of 180 adult patients with GBS, and other sources.

Results: The estimated annual cost of GBS was $1.7 billion (95% CI, $1.6 to 1.9 billion), including $0.2 billion (14%) in direct medical costs and $1.5 billion (86%) in indirect costs. Most of the medical costs were for community hospital admissions. Most of the indirect costs were due to premature deaths. The mean cost per patient with GBS was $318,966 (95% CI, $278,378 to 359,554).

Conclusions: The economic cost of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was substantial, and largely due to disability and death. The cost estimate summarizes the lifetime health burden due to GBS in monetary terms, and provides some of the information needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of health measures that affect GBS.

Abbreviations: CPI = Consumer Price Index; DALY = disability-adjusted life years; DRG = Diagnosis Related Group; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; GBS = Guillain-Barré syndrome; HCUP = Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project; ICD-9-CM = International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification; IRF = inpatient rehabilitation facility; LOS = length of stay; LTCH = long-term care hospital; MEPS = Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; NIS = Nationwide Inpatient Sample; PE = plasma exchange; SNF = skilled nursing facility.

Disclosure: The author reports no disclosures.

The views expressed here are those of the author, and may not be attributed to the Economic Research Service or the US Department of Agriculture.

Received December 11, 2007. Accepted in final form March 13, 2008.

Correspondence: