Healthcare expenditure of multiple sclerosis patients in 2013: A nationwide study based on French health administrative databases.

Background: Little is known about expenditure items of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients over recent years in France.

Objective: To describe healthcare expenditure among MS patients and identify the main expenditure drivers.

Methods: All healthcare expenditure reimbursed by French National Health Insurance to MS patients in 2013 was described on the basis of nationwide health administrative databases (SNIIRAM/PMSI). Expenditure was described globally and according to age and sex.

Results: The average expenditure among the 90,288 MS patients included was €11,900 per patient. Pharmacy and hospitalisation accounted for 47% and 23% of healthcare expenditure, respectively (38% and 22% of MS patients were treated with disease-modifying therapies and hospitalised overnight or longer, respectively). Average expenditure did not differ according to age. However, pharmacy expenditure decreased with age (from 71% between the ages of 20 and 29 years to 18% between the ages of 70 and 79 years), whereas hospitalisation expenditure increased with age (from 15% to 35%). Paramedical fees accounted for 2% of expenditure between the ages of 20 and 29 years and 24% between the ages of 70 and 79 years.

Conclusion: Overall, pharmacy expenditure was the main expenditure item, which decreased with increasing age, while hospitalisation and paramedical expenditure increased with increasing age.