Abstract
Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major burden for the health care system, but the exact costs are difficult to estimate and there are insufficient data available on past and future time trends of COPD-related costs.Aims:The aim of the study was to calculate COPD-related costs in Finland during the years 1996–2006 and estimate future costs for the years 2007–2030.Methods:COPD-related direct and indirect costs in the public health care sector of the whole of Finland during the years 1996–2006 were retrieved from national registers. In addition, we made a mathematical prediction model on COPD costs for the years 2007–2030 on the basis of population projection and changes in smoking habits.Results:The total annual COPD-related costs amounted to about 100–110 million Euros in 1996–2006, with no obvious change, but there was a slight decrease in direct costs and an increase in indirect costs during these years. The estimation model predicted a 60% increase up to 166 million Euros in COPD-related annual costs by the year 2030. This is caused almost entirely by an increase in direct health care costs that reflect the predicted ageing of the Finnish population, as older age is a significant factor that increases the need for hospitalisation.Conclusions:The total annual COPD-related costs in Finland have been stable during the years 1996–2006, but if management strategies are not changed a significant increase in direct costs is expected by the year 2030 due to ageing of the population.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent worldwide, and it is estimated to become the third most common cause of death globally by the year 2020.1 The prevalence of COPD in the Finnish adult population is about 4–10% depending on the definition used.[2,3,4] In two recent population-based studies, the prevalence of COPD, as defined by post-bronchodilator ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity o0.7, was 9.4% among 21–70-year-old subjects in Northern Finland[2] and 5.9% among 26–74-year-old subjects in Helsinki.[4]
Main findings The main findings of the study were that the total COPD-related costs in Finland were stable at about 100 million Euros annually during the years 1996–2006, but due to the forthcoming ageing of the population the annual costs are estimated to increase by about 60% by the year 2030
The annual costs of COPD in Finland have been stable during the years 1996–2006, but the costs are estimated to increase by 60% until the year 2030 mainly due to ageing of the population
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent worldwide, and it is estimated to become the third most common cause of death globally by the year 2020.1 The prevalence of COPD in the Finnish adult population is about 4–10% depending on the definition used.[2,3,4] In two recent population-based studies, the prevalence of COPD, as defined by post-bronchodilator ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity o0.7, was 9.4% among 21–70-year-old subjects in Northern Finland[2] and 5.9% among 26–74-year-old subjects in Helsinki.[4] Of the latter population, 0.6% had severe, 3.0% had moderate and 2.2% had mild COPD. The estimation model predicted a 60% increase up to 166 million Euros in COPD-related annual costs by the year 2030 This is caused almost entirely by an increase in direct health care costs that reflect the predicted ageing of the Finnish population, as older age is a significant factor that increases the need for hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: The total annual COPD-related costs in Finland have been stable during the years 1996–2006, but if management strategies are not changed a significant increase in direct costs is expected by the year 2030 due to ageing of the population
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