THE IMPACT OF PARKINSONS-DISEASE ON HEALTH-STATUS, HEALTH EXPENDITURES, AND PRODUCTIVITY - ESTIMATES FROM THE NATIONAL MEDICAL EXPENDITURE SURVEY

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common disorder that leads to severe dis ability, despite pharmacological and surgical interventions. As PD pro gresses, patients and their families experience substantial health and economic burdens. Little research has been conducted into the economi c consequences of PD or the impairment of health dimensions, such as s ocial function and mental health, that may accompany the deterioration in economic resources and physical function. In the current study, th e US National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) was examined as a sour ce of population-based information about health-resource use, medical expenditures and health status. 43 patients with PB were identified. a nd each was matched with 3 individuals without PD to estimate the cost s attributable to PD. Data from the NMES demonstrate the serious healt h and economic burdens of PD. The patients with PD were clearly shown to have decreased health status, increased health expenditures and los t productivity relative to controls. However, these estimates of the m agnitude of disease burden must be used with caution. The small sample size appears to have inadequately represented patients in the earlies t and the most advanced stages of PD. There was also considerable vari ability in case-control groups, resulting in wide confidence intervals for the estimates.