Costs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Patients Receiving Specialist Outpatient Care in Poland

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death in Poland and worldwide. Cost-of-illness studies (analysing total, direct and indirect costs) are studies aimed to determine the economic burden of a disease. Acute exacerbations and hospitalisation are the major cost drivers in COPD. The aim of the study was to estimate the direct costs of COPD treatment in the setting of specialist outpatient care from the societal perspective. Material and methods: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease costs were estimated from a compilation of data: medical records of patients managed at 8 specialist outpatient clinics and 5 teaching hospitals in Poland between 2007 and 2008. The direct costs, resulting from chronic treatment and treatment of acute exacerbations in the outpatient setting, were calculated using the bottom-up approach on the basis of data collected by pulmonary specialists at outpatient clinics. The mean cost of acute exacerbation managed in the inpatient setting was derived from a multicentre Polish study in which five clinical centres participated. Results: The total cost per patient per year was 4027.82 zlotys (1007 euro) and included the cost of chronic treatment in the amount of 2423.57 zlotys (606 euro) plus the cost of treatment of an acute exacerbation in the outpatient setting in the amount of 421.16 zlotys (105 euro) plus the cost of treatment of an acute exacerbation in the inpatient setting in the amount of 1183.09 zlotys (296 euro). Conclusions: Treatment of COPD in poses a considerable economic burden on the Polish society.