Direct and indirect cost of myasthenia gravis: A prospective study from a tertiary care teaching hospital in India

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) requires lifelong treatment. The cost of management MG is very high in developed countries but there is no information on the cost of management of MG in the developing countries. This study reports the direct and indirect cost and predictors of cost of MG in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. In a prospective hospital based study, from a tertiary hospital in India 66 consecutive patient during 2014–2015 were included. The age of the patients ranged between 6 and 75years. The severity of MG was assessed by myasthenia gravis foundation association (MGFA) class (MGFA) I-V. The patient data was collected s and their direct cost was calculated from the computerized Hospital information system. The indirect cost was calculated from patient’s memory, checking the bills of transportation and wages loss by the patient or the care giver. Total annual cost of MG ranged between INR (4560-532227) with median INR 61390.5 (US$911.64). The median cost of outpatient department (OPD) consultation of 16 patients was INR 20439.9 (US$303.53), of 50 admitted patients was INR 44311.8 (US$658.03) and 21 intensive care unit (ICU) patients was INR 59574.3 (US$ 884.6) and the direct cost of thymectomy was INR 45000 (US$ 668.25). Direct cost was related to indirect cost (r=0.55; p=0.0001). Predictors of patient outcome were severity of MG, ICU admission, and thymectomy. The total median cost for management of myasthenia gravis was INR 61390.5 (4560-532227, US$911.64) per year, and the cost was mainly determined by the severity of MG.