Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in Spain: a retrospective analysis of hospital incidence and medical costs.

Background: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare disorder that usually involves long-term impairment. Despite the chronic health-care needs that are often associated, research evaluating the economic burden of this disorder is still scarce. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of patients admitted with CIDP in Spanish hospitals and to determine the associated medical costs.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was designed analyzing records of hospital and ambulatory visits of patients with CIDP in Spanish hospitals between 2004 and 2018. Medical costs registered in hospital facilities were evaluated.

Results: Admission files corresponding to 2805 patients diagnosed with CIDP were extracted from the database: 64.7% of patients were males, and median age was 60 years. Patients presented comorbidities that included essential hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus. The raw number of admissions for CIDP increased significantly over the study period, similarly to mean admission costs for all age groups. Consequently, total hospital medical costs associated with CIDP increased over the study period. The mean medical cost per admission was €3953.

Conclusions: The increasing number of hospital cases of CIDP is associated with rising medical costs. Further research will be required to fully evaluate the medical and societal burdens of this disorder.