Abstract

Background

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a treatable disease with a high prevalence, and high morbidity associated with significant socioeconomic costs.

Objective

To carry out a systematic review of the literature to analyze the main cost studies associated with COPD, in order to determine the main factors that influence the costs of the disease.

Methods

Searches were conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases for cost studies on COPD published in English, between the years 2015 and 2020. The search terms were “COPD” OR “pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive”, “cost*” OR “cost of illness”, “economic impact” AND “burden of disease”. The inclusion criteria included the identification of reported cost of the disease, economic burden, medical care expenses or use resources for COPD, the methodology used, data sources, and variables studied.

Results

18 publications were analyzed: 17 included direct health costs, 6 included direct non-medical costs, 12 analyzed indirect costs and two reported intangible costs. Most of the studies reported data for developed and European countries, with direct costs being the most studied. Trends were observed in multiple studies of direct and healthcare costs for European countries measured by patient and year, where the higher costs were associated with more severe COPD and a frequent history of exacerbations. The highest costs reported corresponded to hospitalizations and the associated pharmacological treatment. The importance of the loss of productivity and premature retirement within the profile of the COPD patient was also highlighted as the main generator of indirect costs of the disease.

Conclusion

COPD generates substantial costs for the health system, mainly related to moderate to severe stages and the exacerbations and complications entailed. It is important to strengthen health systems with monitoring, evaluation and health education models that allow these patients to remain stable to avoid decompensation and subsequent hospitalizations.

Details

Title
Cost analysis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review
Author
Gutiérrez Villegas Celia 1 ; Paz-Zulueta María 2 ; Herrero-Montes, Manuel 3 ; Parás-Bravo Paula 3 ; Madrazo Pérez María 4 

 IDIVAL, Research Institute Marqués de Valdecilla. C/ Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, Santander, Spain (GRID:grid.484299.a) 
 University of Cantabria, Faculty of Nursing, Santander, Spain (GRID:grid.7821.c) (ISNI:0000 0004 1770 272X); IDIVAL, GI Derecho Sanitario y Bioética, GRIDES. C/ Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n. C.P, Santander, Spain (GRID:grid.484299.a) 
 University of Cantabria, Faculty of Nursing, Santander, Spain (GRID:grid.7821.c) (ISNI:0000 0004 1770 272X); IDIVAL, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermería. C/ Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n. C.P, Santander, Spain (GRID:grid.484299.a) 
 University of Cantabria, Faculty of Nursing, Santander, Spain (GRID:grid.7821.c) (ISNI:0000 0004 1770 272X) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
Dec 2021
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
e-ISSN
21911991
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2562074201
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.