ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Epilepsy imposes a considerable economic burden on society. However, especially in Turkey, information about the direct cost of epilepsy is insufficient. The aim of this study was to compare the cost of epilepsy with that of diseases of different severity.

Methods:

Patients were divided into five groups according to disease severity. Accordingly, Group A included newly diagnosed patients; Group B, patients with epilepsy with remission; Group C, patients with occasional seizures; Group D, active drug nonresistant patients; and Group E, drug-resistant patients. All data were collected for each patient in general hospital, and annual cost was calculated.

Results:

One hundred sixty-three patients were evaluated. The mean annual cost for each patient was 799 Euro. Group E was the most expensive group (1830 Euro), followed by Group D (768 Euro), Group A (546 Euro), Group C (461 Euro), and Group B (390 Euro). Antiepileptic drugs accounted for the major costs in Groups B, C, D, and E, while the cost of EEG and neuroradiological imaging was more prominent in Group A.

Conclusion:

The direct cost of epilepsy in Turkey varied depending on the severity of the condition and response to the treatment. Drugs played a significant role in the cost.A