Cost
of endometriosis higher than for Crohn's and migraine
A systematic review
of estimates and methodology of studies quantifying
the costs of endometriosis concludes that costs are
considerably higher than those related to Crohn's disease
or to migraine.
The authors included studies of cost-of-illness
analyses quantifying the economic impact of endometriosis
and cost analyses calculating diagnostic and treatment
costs of endometriosis.
Annual healthcare costs and costs of
productivity loss associated with endometriosis have
been estimated at US$2801 and UE$1023 per patient, respectively.
Extrapolating these findings to the US population, this
study calculated that annual costs of endometriosis
attained $22 billion in 2002 assuming a 10% prevalence
rate among women of reproductive age.
These costs are considerably higher than those related
to Crohn's disease or to migraine.
To date, it is not possible to determine whether a medical
approach is less expensive than a surgical approach
to treating endometriosis in patients presenting with
chronic pelvic pain. Evidence of endometriosis costs
in infertile patients is largely lacking. Cost estimates
were biased due to the absence of a control group of
patients without endometriosis, inadequate consideration
of endometriosis recurrence and restricted scope of
costs.
The authors conclude by calling for
more and better-designed studies that carry out longitudinal
analyses of patients until the cessation of their symptoms
or that model the chronic nature of endometriosis.
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