Estimated Direct Medical Cost of Osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Retrospective Cost Analysis.

Bander Balkhi,Ahmad Bin Nasser,Bader Alotaibi,Ahmed Alghamdi,Hisham Alsanawi,Mona A Fouda,Sulaiman Alqusair,Yazed Alruthia

doi:10.3390/ijerph18189831

Bander Balkhi, Ahmad Bin Nasser + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189831

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Abstract

Osteoporosis and its complications are a major health concern in Saudi Arabia, and the prevalence of osteoporosis is on the rise. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct healthcare cost for patients with osteoporosis. A retrospective study was carried out among adult patients with osteoporosis in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. A bottom-up approach was conducted to estimate the healthcare resources used and the total direct medical cost for the treatment of osteoporosis and related fractures. The study included 511 osteoporosis patients, 93% of whom were female. The average (SD) age was 68.5 years (10.2). The total mean direct medical costs for patients without fractures were USD 975.77 per person per year (PPPY), and for those with osteoporotic fractures, the total direct costs were USD 9716.26 PPPY, of which 56% of the costs were attributable to surgery procedures. Prior to fractures, the main cost components were medication, representing 61%, and physician visits, representing 18%. The findings of this study indicated the economic impact of osteoporosis and related fractures. With the aging population in Saudi Arabia, the burden of disease could increase significantly, which highlights the need for effective prevention strategies to minimize the economic burden of osteoporosis.

Highlights

Osteoporosis is defined as a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an increased risk of fracture
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Saudi Arabia to provide a detailed breakdown and distribution of the costs regarding osteoporosis patients, with or without fractures, using real-world data
Our study showed that the total direct medical cost associated with the management of 511 patients with osteoporosis was U.S dollars (USD) 996,824.29, which indicated that the costs directly associated with osteoporosis management in Saudi Arabia were considerably high

Summary

Introduction

Osteoporosis is defined as a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an increased risk of fracture. It is considered one of the most common diseases associated with aging, and it represents a serious public health concern in many developed countries [1]. Osteoporosis affects an estimated 200 million people [3]. In developed countries such as those in North America and Europe, as well as Japan and Australia, the country-specific osteoporosis prevalence ranges from 9% to 38% for women and from 1% to 8% for men [4]. The prevalence of osteoporosis is higher in women than in men; it is estimated that between 25% and 30% of all postmenopausal women in the United States and Europe have osteoporosis [5]

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