Multicenter, cross‐sectional study of the costs of illness and cost‐driving factors in adult patients with epilepsy

Objective This study was undertaken to quantify epilepsy‐related costs of illness (COI) in Germany and identify cost‐driving factors. Methods COI were calculated among adults with epilepsy of different etiologies and severities. Multiple regression analysis was applied to determine any epilepsy‐related and sociodemographic factors that serve as cost‐driving factors. Results In total, 486 patients were included, with a mean age of 40.5 ± 15.5 years (range = 18–83 years, 58.2% women). Mean 3‐month COI were estimated at €4911, €2782, and €2598 for focal, genetic generalized, and unclassified epilepsy, respectively. The mean COI for patients with drug‐refractory epilepsy (DRE; €7850) were higher than those for patients with non‐DRE (€4720), patients with occasional seizures (€3596), or patients with seizures in remission for >1 year (€2409). Identified cost‐driving factors for total COI included relevant disability (unstandardized regression coefficient b = €2218), poorer education (b = €2114), living alone (b = €2612), DRE (b = €1831), and frequent seizures (b = €2385). Younger age groups of 18–24 years (b = −€2945) and 25–34 years (b = −€1418) were found to have lower overall expenditures. A relevant disability (b = €441), DRE (b = €1253), frequent seizures (b = €735), and the need for specialized daycare (b = €749) were associated with higher direct COI, and poorer education (b = €1969), living alone (b = €2612), the presence of a relevant disability (b = €1809), DRE (b = €1831), and frequent seizures (b = €2385) were associated with higher indirect COI. Significance This analysis provides up‐to‐date COI data for use in further health economics analyses, highlighting the high economic impacts associated with disease severity, disability, and disease‐related loss of productivity among adult patients with epilepsy. The identified cost drivers could be used as therapeutic and socioeconomic targets for future cost‐containment strategies.