Costs of Hospital Care and Productivity Loss Due to Sickle Cell Disease in Sweden: A Retrospective Study

• Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the disease is most prevalent in Africa, it has been increasingly common in Western countries due to migration. The number of SCD patients in Sweden is unknown and the comprehensive national registries in Sweden provide a unique opportunity to address the objective to assess the burden of SCD.Methods: Using Sweden’s national patient registry, the 1-year prevalence of SCD with crisis (at least one registration of ICD-10 code D57.0 during the identification period, 2001-2018) was estimated during a 13-year follow-up period (2006-2018). Costs for hospital care of SCD (any ICD-10 D57) were estimated through hospital remuneration amounts based on diagnosis-related group. Productivity losses due to sick leave or disability for SCD, from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, were assessed for working-age patients (18-65 years) and costed with Swedish mean salary, plus social security contributions.Results: The 1-year prevalence of SCD with crisis increased during the follow-up period from 139 patients in year 2006 to 260 in 2018. A total of 2,427 inpatients stays were recorded with SCD (ICD-10 D57) as main reason for stay (observed in 2,632 SCD patient years) over the study period. In addition, 7,213 outpatient visits due to SCD were recorded. These stays and visits were estimated to cost 76.4 million (M) Swedish Krona (SEK) and 31.0 M SEK, respectively. Productivity losses due to sick leaves and disability pension amounted to 14.8 M SEK and 68.3 M SEK, respectively.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that SCD with crisis is associated with economic burden to society, health care and patients in Sweden and increasing prevalence and costs over the years of follow up. In total, for the years 2006-2018, the cost of hospital care and productivity losses for SCD amounted to 190.6 M SEK.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Hematologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Hematology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

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