Universität zu Köln

Luengen, Markus, Albus, Christian, Niecke, Alexander, Samel, Christina, Pfaff, Holger ORCID: 0000-0001-9154-6575 and Peters, Klaus (2017). Health care costs of thalidomide-affected people - a actual revaluation. Gesundh. Qual., 22 (4). S. 187 - 193. NEW YORK: THIEME MEDICAL PUBL INC. ISSN 1439-4049

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Abstract

Aim Analyzing costs and effects caused by adverse drug reactions usually cover short time horizon. In the case of the effects of thalidomide a follow-up of 50 years after the event could be considered. Method Data was collected from thalidomide-affected people in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), where most of the affected persons today live. Data on working capacity and private expenditures were collected in a written survey. An analysis of accounting data of the health insurance compared a group extremities malformations with an age-matched control of the general population of the region. Results The survey included 202 thalidomide-affected people. There were significant and individually highly variable personal expenses, which often were not covered by the social health insurance. Even if absenteeism was rather high, the rate of termination of employment was comparatively low. Overall, the cost from the perspective of social health insurance for thalidomide-affected people was 29 % higher than for the age-matched control group (3038 Euros versus 2045 Euros per year). Conclusion The thalidomide disaster is a tragic example for the fact that adverse drug effects could not only cause short-term healthcare costs, but also substantial long term costs in the society and in the households of those affected. In addition to pure cost analysis the lack of access to effective therapies to mitigate the consequences of adverse drug events, and the loss of confidence into health care need to be addressed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Luengen, Markus UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Albus, Christian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Niecke, Alexander UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Samel, Christina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pfaff, Holger UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-9154-6575 UNSPECIFIED Peters, Klaus UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-222628
DOI:	10.1055/s-0042-123153
Journal or Publication Title:	Gesundh. Qual.
Volume:	22
Number:	4
Page Range:	S. 187 - 193
Date:	2017
Publisher:	THIEME MEDICAL PUBL INC
Place of Publication:	NEW YORK
ISSN:	1439-4049
Language:	German
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/22262