Economic Burden Of Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) in Spain
Author(s)
Javier Ampuero, MD, PhD, MSc1, Rosa María Morillas, MD2, Helena Cantero, MSc3, Sofía de Pedro, MSc4, María Mareque, MSc4.
1Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain, 2Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain, 3Gilead Sciences, Madrid, Spain, 4Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), Madrid, Spain.
1Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain, 2Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain, 3Gilead Sciences, Madrid, Spain, 4Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia (PORIB), Madrid, Spain.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the economic burden of managing adult patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) in Spain.
METHODS: A cost analysis was conducted, using an economic model, to estimate the 1-year cost of managing PBC. Based on literature and expert opinion, an epidemiological flow was established to estimate Spanish patients ≥18 years diagnosed with PBC. These patients were then distributed according to their clinical situation: without general complications, or with symptoms (pruritus and fatigue) and/or liver complications (compensated cirrhosis with or without portal hypertension, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation) and/or associated extrahepatic complications (osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, fat-soluble vitamins malabsorption, Sjögren's syndrome, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Raynaud's syndrome). The National Health System perspective was selected, meaning only direct healthcare costs were considered. These included drug treatment and management of disease, symptoms and complications, based on expert opinion. Unit costs (€, 2024) were obtained from national databases and literature. Five alternative scenarios were evaluated.
RESULTS: In Spain, an estimated 8,779 patients were diagnosed with PBC. The annual PBC management cost was €13,206,582 (management of all the clinical situations, €11,386,850 and pharmacological cost, €1,819,732). The cost for patients without complications (n=4,829) was €535/year per patient. For each clinical situation, the annual cost was €584/patient with symptoms (n=878); €815/patient with extrahepatic complications (n=483); €1,192/patient with symptoms and extrahepatic complications (n=307); €3,582/patient with liver complications (n=658); €3,959/patient with symptoms and liver complications (n=483); €4,190/patient with liver and extrahepatic complications (n=351); and €4,567/patient with symptoms, liver and extrahepatic complications (n=790). In the alternative scenarios, the total annual cost ranged from €12,093,964 to €13,290,768.
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis highlights the high economic impact of PBC in Spain, mainly driven by liver complications. Early diagnosis and effective treatment could significantly reduce the occurrence of these complications, thereby reducing the overall clinical and economic burden.
METHODS: A cost analysis was conducted, using an economic model, to estimate the 1-year cost of managing PBC. Based on literature and expert opinion, an epidemiological flow was established to estimate Spanish patients ≥18 years diagnosed with PBC. These patients were then distributed according to their clinical situation: without general complications, or with symptoms (pruritus and fatigue) and/or liver complications (compensated cirrhosis with or without portal hypertension, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation) and/or associated extrahepatic complications (osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, fat-soluble vitamins malabsorption, Sjögren's syndrome, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Raynaud's syndrome). The National Health System perspective was selected, meaning only direct healthcare costs were considered. These included drug treatment and management of disease, symptoms and complications, based on expert opinion. Unit costs (€, 2024) were obtained from national databases and literature. Five alternative scenarios were evaluated.
RESULTS: In Spain, an estimated 8,779 patients were diagnosed with PBC. The annual PBC management cost was €13,206,582 (management of all the clinical situations, €11,386,850 and pharmacological cost, €1,819,732). The cost for patients without complications (n=4,829) was €535/year per patient. For each clinical situation, the annual cost was €584/patient with symptoms (n=878); €815/patient with extrahepatic complications (n=483); €1,192/patient with symptoms and extrahepatic complications (n=307); €3,582/patient with liver complications (n=658); €3,959/patient with symptoms and liver complications (n=483); €4,190/patient with liver and extrahepatic complications (n=351); and €4,567/patient with symptoms, liver and extrahepatic complications (n=790). In the alternative scenarios, the total annual cost ranged from €12,093,964 to €13,290,768.
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis highlights the high economic impact of PBC in Spain, mainly driven by liver complications. Early diagnosis and effective treatment could significantly reduce the occurrence of these complications, thereby reducing the overall clinical and economic burden.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE363
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Rare & Orphan Diseases