TABLE 6.
Summary of total direct and indirect costs of pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) over a six-month period* (n=211)
| Parameter | Total | Cost per patient
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean ± SD | Median | 25% quartile | 75% quartile | Minimum† | Maximum | Daily | ||
| Direct costs | ||||||||
| Health care visits | ||||||||
| Family physician | $15,084 | $72±205 | $0 | $0 | $46 | $0 | $1,666 | $0.39 |
| Specialist | $5,082 | $24±54 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $372 | $0.13 |
| Pain clinic | $908 | $4±22 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $151 | $0.02 |
| Physical therapist | $5,941 | $28±131 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,220 | $0.16 |
| Total | $27,016 | $129±320 | $0 | $0 | $139 | $0 | $2,362 | $0.70 |
| Hospitalizations and ER visits | ||||||||
| Hospitalizations | $149,350 | $711±4,170 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $43,500 | $3.90 |
| ER visits | $7,200 | $34±122 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,200 | $0.19 |
| Total | $156,550 | $745±4,196 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $43,620 | $4.08 |
| Drug management of pain | ||||||||
| Prescribed | $144,300 | $684±2,121 | $130 | $0 | $528 | $0 | $20,318 | $3.75 |
| Over the counter | $5,318 | $25±53 | $2 | $0 | $25 | $0 | $390 | $0.14 |
| Total | $149,618 | $709±2,118 | $165 | $32 | $560 | $0 | $20,318 | $3.89 |
| Nondrug management of pain | $92,850 | $440±1,059 | $0 | $0 | $385 | $0 | $8,927 | $2.41 |
| Laboratory/diagnostic services | $8,017 | $38±92 | $0 | $0 | $20 | $0 | $685 | $0.21 |
| Home care services | $67,853 | $323±1,606 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $15,030 | $1.77 |
| Travel costs | $30,044 | $143±500 | $130 | $0 | $528 | $0 | $6,400 | $0.78 |
| Total direct costs | $531,948 | $2,528±5,695 | $761 | $210 | $2,076 | $0 | $49,804 | $13.85 |
| Indirect costs | ||||||||
| Lost time | ||||||||
| Lost time from work | $16,945 | $82±312 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,112 | $0.45 |
| Lost time from leisure | $121,622 | $588±841 | $264 | $0 | $660 | $0 | $3,168 | $3.22 |
| Total | $138,567 | $669±875 | $264 | $1 | $933 | $0 | $3,168 | $3.67 |
| Total indirect costs | $138,567 | $669±875 | $264 | $1 | $933 | $0 | $3,168 | $3.67 |
| Direct and indirect costs | $670,515 | $3,197±5,965 | $1,496 | $606 | $3,354 | $0 | $52,339 | $17.52 |
*
Unless stated otherwise, all costs are for a six-month period;
†
Four participants reported pain but incurred zero cost for all items. ER Emergency room