Excess costs from functional somatic syndromes in Germany - An analysis using entropy balancing

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Psychiatry
• General Practice

Background:

• Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) represent a significant health burden.
• Understanding the economic impact of FSS is crucial for resource allocation and healthcare policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate disorder-specific excess costs associated with functional somatic syndromes (FSS).
• To analyze direct and indirect costs in FSS patients compared to a general population control group.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month cost comparison between 273 FSS patients and 2914 controls from Germany.
• Entropy balancing was used for covariate balance, with generalized linear and two-part models for cost estimation.
• Excess costs were analyzed based on somatic symptom severity (SSS).

Main Results:

• FSS patients showed significantly higher 6-month outpatient costs for physicians (+€280) and other providers (+€74).
• Costs increased with SSS severity for outpatient physician and provider services.
• Indirect costs were significantly higher for patients with severe FSS (+€760).

Conclusions:

• Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) impose a substantial economic burden, primarily in the outpatient sector.
• Severe FSS is associated with significantly elevated indirect costs, highlighting its broader socioeconomic impact.