COSTS OF MEDICAL-CARE AFTER FIRST-EVER STROKE IN THE NETHERLANDS

Background and Purpose Stroke causes high morbidity and mortality. The aging of the population further increases the demands on healthcare c oals. Methods Wr estimated the lifetime direct costs of carl of first- ever stroke patients in the Netherlands in 1991 using epidemiological data from national and international studies. In addition, we examined the effect of an aging population on future healthcare costs. Results The lifetime costs for 24 007 first-ever stroke patients are estimate d to be 1870 million Dutch guilders (Dfl) (1 Dfl=0.53 US dollar, 1991) . Per-person costs are higher for women (83 000 DA) than for men (71 0 00 DH), The major cost component of first-year costs is hospital costs (45%), while nursing home costs dominate lifetime costs (50%). An inc rease of the elderly population alder than 65 years of 27% between 199 1 and 2010 might lead to a parallel increase of total costs of 30%, or 1.5% per year. Conclusions Long-term care rather than acute care domi nates the lifetime costs for stroke patients now and in the future.