Direct medical cost related to the management of pemphigus: A pilot Tunisian study

Pemphigus is a therapeutically challenging disease with high morbidity and economic burden. First-line prescription of rituximab remains limited in Tunisia due to its high cost. Systemic steroids remain the standard of care but are associated with a major risk of morbidities and higher treatment costs.

To assess the direct medical costs of pemphigus in Tunisia.

Retrospective estimation of direct medical costs during the 18 months following the diagnosis using the "bottom-up approach" in the Dermatology Department of Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.

Total medical costs were estimated at 38745.7 €, with an average cost of 1 210 € per patient and per year: paraclinical investigations (46%), medical treatment (30%), hospitalization (21%) and outpatient visits (3%). The average cost was the highest in the age group of 15-24 years (1553 €). Treatment costs related to corticosteroid-induced morbidity were estimated at 1208 €.

The management of pemphigus in Tunisia needs to be adapted to take into account the health economic analysis in order to reduce overall disease costs and the burden of steroid-induced morbidities.