[Epilepsy in adults: a costs-of-illness study]

An aim of the study was to assess clinical-economic effectiveness of therapy in the stages of examination of an epileptic patient by a local neurologist and then by an epileptologist after therapy optimization. Three hundreds and ten patients with different forms of epilepsy and types of epileptic seizures were treated. Costs-of-illness and medical services were assessed using common parameters on the basis of current prices in the health-care system. Special attention was drawn to expenses related to purchasing of antiepileptic drugs (traditional and new ones). The expenses for treatment were compared to treatment effectiveness. It is concluded that mean costs of treatment of epilepsy, including new brands of antiepileptic drugs with high prices, have substantial medical-social benefits that compensate expenses for their purchasing at the expense of other direct and indirect costs.