[The costs of a multiple sclerosis relapse in Catalonia (Spain)].

Introduction: The objective of this study is to calculate direct, indirect and intangible costs of a relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) in our cohort of patients.

Methods: Data from patient questionnaires, hospital charts, Catalan Public Healthcare System tariffs and Catalan Statistics Institute. We employed a cost-of-illness method. The human capital approach was used to estimate indirect costs, and quality-of-life measurements were used to estimate intangible costs.

Results: 148 MS patients monitored in our MS-Unit consecutively answered the questionnaire elaborated. We calculated 1,498.5-1,537.9 euros for direct costs (hospital admission and outpatient, respectively) and 1,530.6 euros for indirect costs. We estimated an average total cost of 3,048.8 euros per patient/relapse. We also calculated intangible costs, 539 euros per patient and relapse, which should be added to the previous figure.

Conclusions: The total cost of a MS relapse in our population (3,048.8 euros) is lower than the cost reported in the literature. The economic impact of MS is due to its disabling progression rather than to relapses