Economic aspects of urolithiasis and stone metaphylaxis

A calculation model was developed for the cost of stone therapy and metaphy laxis in Germany based on estimates of stone incidence, types and recurrenc e rates, actual costs for stone removal and metaphylaxis (based on data fro m a district of the social health care system). There are 200,000 stone rec urrences per year in Germany. Cost for treatment of these stones amount to $687,000,000. Stone metaphylaxis reduces the recurrence rate by some 40%. T he annual cost for stone removal could be lowered by $275,300,000. Metaboli c evaluation/metaphylaxis amount to $70,100,000 per year, resulting in an n et saving of $205,200,000. In 1997, there were 96 days off-work per stone p atient resulting in 5,800,000 days off-work in Germany per year. Metaphylax is in stone formers can lower health care cost significantly. Although heal th care conditions may Vary from country to country, in principle this calc ulation model is applicable also to other countries.