Costs for stroke in Sweden 2009 and developments since 1997

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Public Health
• Stroke Medicine

Background:

• Stroke represents a significant health and economic burden globally.
• Estimating the costs of stroke is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.
• Previous cost estimations for stroke in Sweden exist from 1997.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the direct and indirect excess costs of stroke in Sweden in 2009.
• To compare these costs with estimates from 1997.
• To analyze the components contributing to the overall cost of stroke.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Swedish national stroke register (RS) for first-ever stroke admissions in 2009.
• Compared 2009 data with similar RS data from 1997.
• Adopted a societal perspective, including acute and follow-up care, rehabilitation, readmissions, medications, daily living support, and indirect costs (premature death, productivity loss).
• Extrapolated survival data to calculate the lifetime present value cost of stroke.

Main Results:

• The societal lifetime present value cost per stroke patient in 2009 was €68,800.
• Activities of daily life (ADL) support constituted 59% of costs, and productivity losses accounted for 21%.
• Women incurred higher costs than men due to greater ADL support needs.
• Total lifetime costs increased from 1997 to 2009, with stable hospitalization costs but increased long-term home and residential care costs.

Conclusions:

• Increased patient needs, longer survival, and potential improvements in Swedish stroke care contributed to higher costs in 2009 compared to 1997.
• A robust national stroke care performance register, like RS, is valuable for health economic assessments.
• The findings underscore the escalating economic impact of stroke and the importance of efficient long-term care strategies.