Cost of Psoriasis
Title: Cost-of-illness in patients with moderate
and severe chronic psoriasis vulgaris in Germany.
Authors: Berger K, et al.
Publication: J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2005 Jul;3(7):511-8.
The authors wanted to assess the annual cost and cost per flare
up of psoriasis in Germany, for both outpatient and office-based
care.
To do this, the author analyzed data from 17 treatment centers.
Out of 192 cases that could be analyzed, the authors found that
third-party payer reimbursed 864 € per patients annually,
60% for prescribed medication and 22% for hospitalization.
The patients themselves spent 596 € yearly mostly for alternative
therapies and over-the-counter medications and skin care products,
as well as for other expenses (ultraviolet light, clothes, or
cleansers).
Indirect cost per patient was 1,440 €annually and the total
annual cost per patient was 2,866 €. If the patient was
treated with systemic drugs (drugs that affect the whole body),
the annual cost is 4,985 €. If treated topically or with
phototherapy, then the cost is 1,173 €.
The authors concluded that the relatively high average yearly
cost of treating psoriasis indicated the need for more efficient
control, and could be the basis for economic assessment for future
psoriasis treatments.
