Direct Cost of Schizophrenia in Quebec, Canada: An Incidence-Based Microsimulation Monte Carlo Markov Model

• Activity Number: 423
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Biopharmaceutical Section
• Author(s): Alice Dragomir*+ and Jean-Eric Tarride and Ridha Joober and Guy Rouleau and Sylvie Perreault
• Companies: University of Montreal and McMaster University and McGill University and University of Montreal and University of Montreal
• Keywords: costs of schizophrenia ; Markov Model with Monte-Carlo microsimulations ; healthcare cost ; non-healthcare cost

Abstract

Aim: Pharmacological strategies for schizophrenia have received increasing attention due to the development of new and costly drug therapies. Objectives: To estimate the direct healthcare and non-healthcare cost of schizophrenia and to simulate cost reductions potentially obtained with a new treatment, over the first 5 years following their diagnosis. Methods: A microsimulation Monte-Carlo Markov model was used. Six discrete disorder states defined the Markov model. Costs and individual probabilities of transition were estimated from the administrative databases and all analyses were performed under the government perspective. Results: A total of 14,320 individuals were identified in the study cohort as newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia. The mean direct cost of schizophrenia over the first 5 years following diagnosis was estimated $36,701. In the case where a new treatment with 20% increase of effectiveness will be available, the direct healthcare and non-healthcare costs can be reduced up to 14.2%. Conclusion: This model is the first Canadian model incorporating transition probabilities adjusted for individual risk-factor profiles and costs using real-life data.