Cost Study for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy with Routine Data of Statutory Health Insurance - Methodology and Analysis

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is a severe autosomal dominate genetic disease that can cause an accumulation of altered protein deposits in organs. These deposits can cause damage to internal organs and usually lead to death within 10 years. This study aims to capture the German health system costs that are being set by the treatment of patients with FAP. Data were compiled using a database of approximately 3.2 million individuals who were registered in a health insurance organization in the years 2005 to 2008. Comorbidities were identified based on a hierarchy of disease groups as hierarchical diseases groups (HMG). The expenditures (including deceased) fluctuated during the period between (sic)4608 (SD (sic)4498 and (sic)9936 (SD (sic)19 190). The expenditures (excluding deceased) ranged between (sic)4608 (SD (sic)4498) and (sic)7513 (SD (sic)12 272). The expenditures (including and excluding deceased) for inpatient treatment were the highest, followed by drug costs and outpatient costs. Totally, a FAP-patient has a three-to four-fold higher cost level as an average SHI-insured patient. Familial amyloid polyneuropathy is particularly associated with cardiovascular and psychiatric comorbidities.