Author/Authors :
Pourhoseingholi, Mohamad Amin Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Rostami-Nejad, Mohammad Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Barzegar, Farnoush Student Research Committee - Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Rostami, Kamran Department of Gastroenterology - Milton University Hospital, UK , Volta, Umberto Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Diagnostic and experimental - University of Bologna, Italy , Sadeghi, Amir Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Honarkar, Zahra Gastroenterology Department - Modarres Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Salehi, Niloofar Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Asadzadeh-Aghdaei, Hamid Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Baghestani, Ahmad Reza Department of Biostatistics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Zali, Mohammad Reza Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center - Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the economic burden of celiac disease (CD) in Iran.
Background: The assessment of burden of CD has become an important primary or secondary outcome measure in clinical and
epidemiologic studies.
Methods: Information regarding medical costs and gluten free diet (GFD) costs were gathered using questionnaire and checklists
offered to the selected patients with CD. The data included the direct medical cost (including Doctor Visit, hospitalization, clinical
test examinations, endoscopies, etc.), GFD cost and loss productivity cost (as the indirect cost) for CD patient were estimated. The
factors used for cost estimation included frequency of health resource utilization and gluten free diet basket. Purchasing Power Parity
Dollar (PPP$) was used in order to make inter-country comparisons.
Results: Total of 213 celiac patients entered to this study. The mean (standard deviation) of total cost per patient per year was 3377
(1853) PPP$. This total cost including direct medical cost, GFD costs and loss productivity cost per patients per year. Also the mean
and standard deviation of medical cost and GFD cost were 195 (128) PPP$ and 932 (734) PPP$ respectively. The total costs of CD
were significantly higher for male. Also GFD cost and total cost were higher for unmarried patients.
Conclusion: In conclusion, our estimation of CD economic burden is indicating that CD patients face substantial expense that might
not be affordable for a good number of these patients. The estimated economic burden may put these patients at high risk for dietary
neglect resulting in increasing the risk of long term complications.
