Economic Consequences of Disease-Related Malnutrition in Poland and the Potential Cost Savings From Nutritional Interventions: A Two-Step Modeling Study
Author(s)
JOANNA AUGUSTYNSKA, MSc1, Justyna Kopel, MSc1, Michal Seweryn, PhD2, Karolina Skóra, MPH, MSc1.
1EconMed Europe, Kraków, Poland, 2Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Kraków, Poland.
1EconMed Europe, Kraków, Poland, 2Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Kraków, Poland.
OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition significantly increases healthcare resource use and costs. This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of untreated disease-related malnutrition (DRM) in Poland and evaluate the potential budgetary impact of implementing nutritional interventions for all patients diagnosed with DRM, from the public payer’s and healthcare provider’s perspectives.
METHODS: A two-step economic model was developed. Step 1 estimated the healthcare and societal costs associated with untreated DRM across three sectors: hospital care, outpatient care (primary and specialist), and long-term care. Resource consumption was assessed incrementally between malnourished and well-nourished populations using national and international data. Step 2 estimated the costs of providing nutritional interventions - including oral nutritional supplements (ONS), enteral, and parenteral nutrition - based on clinical guidelines and reimbursement data. Sensitivity analyses addressed uncertainty in prevalence rates and intervention uptake. One-year time horizon and 2023 cost data were applied.
RESULTS: Annually, DRM affects approximately 2.5 million individuals in Poland. Untreated DRM leads to over €1,173 million in additional public payer costs and more than €1,662 million in provider-level expenditures, mainly driven by extended hospital stays. Societal productivity losses exceeded €178 million per year. Implementing nutritional treatment for all eligible patients would cost approximately €264 million (NHS perspective), with ONS-related hospital costs borne by providers estimated at €36 million. Even under maximum uptake assumptions, nutritional care costs remained less than half the burden of untreated DRM. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of findings.
CONCLUSIONS: Untreated DRM imposes a significant financial burden on Poland’s healthcare system. Widespread adoption of nutritional therapy is not only clinically justified but also economically advantageous. Targeted reimbursement of ONS and improved access to nutrition care could generate substantial savings and reduce healthcare resource strain, especially in the context of an ageing population.
METHODS: A two-step economic model was developed. Step 1 estimated the healthcare and societal costs associated with untreated DRM across three sectors: hospital care, outpatient care (primary and specialist), and long-term care. Resource consumption was assessed incrementally between malnourished and well-nourished populations using national and international data. Step 2 estimated the costs of providing nutritional interventions - including oral nutritional supplements (ONS), enteral, and parenteral nutrition - based on clinical guidelines and reimbursement data. Sensitivity analyses addressed uncertainty in prevalence rates and intervention uptake. One-year time horizon and 2023 cost data were applied.
RESULTS: Annually, DRM affects approximately 2.5 million individuals in Poland. Untreated DRM leads to over €1,173 million in additional public payer costs and more than €1,662 million in provider-level expenditures, mainly driven by extended hospital stays. Societal productivity losses exceeded €178 million per year. Implementing nutritional treatment for all eligible patients would cost approximately €264 million (NHS perspective), with ONS-related hospital costs borne by providers estimated at €36 million. Even under maximum uptake assumptions, nutritional care costs remained less than half the burden of untreated DRM. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of findings.
CONCLUSIONS: Untreated DRM imposes a significant financial burden on Poland’s healthcare system. Widespread adoption of nutritional therapy is not only clinically justified but also economically advantageous. Targeted reimbursement of ONS and improved access to nutrition care could generate substantial savings and reduce healthcare resource strain, especially in the context of an ageing population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE369
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Budget Impact Analysis, Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Geriatrics, No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Nutrition