The Economic Burden of Acromegaly Disease in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Author(s)
Mussa Almalki, MD1, Wael Almistehi, MD2, Abdullah Alshehry, PharmD, MBA3, Moeber Mahzari, MD4, Abdulrahman Al Turaiki, PharmD4, Hend Metwali, PharmD5, mohammed Suwairi, MSc4, Abdulghani Alsaeed, MD6, BANDAR MANAWER AL HARBI, PhD6, Ibtisam Alharbi, PharmD, MSc7, Fatimah Alyami, PhD8, Hossam Magdy, MSc9, Shaima Khader, MSc10, Muhannad Alharbi, MSc10, Sultanah Alshammari, PharmD11.
1Obesity, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center, King Fahad Medical City, Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2Obesity, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center, King Fahad Medical City Second Health Care Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 3King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4Ministry of National Guard -Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 5Ministry of National Guard -Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 6Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 7King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 8Center for National Health Insurance, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 9Recordati Rare Disease Company, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 10HEPA Solutions, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1Obesity, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center, King Fahad Medical City, Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2Obesity, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center, King Fahad Medical City Second Health Care Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 3King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4Ministry of National Guard -Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 5Ministry of National Guard -Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 6Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 7King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 8Center for National Health Insurance, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 9Recordati Rare Disease Company, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 10HEPA Solutions, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVES: Acromegaly is a rare, progressive endocrine disorder characterized by excessive growth hormone secretion, leading to substantial morbidity and reduced quality of life. Despite its clinical burden, local data on its economic impact in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) remains limited. This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of acromegaly in KSA from both public healthcare payer and societal perspectives.
METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis was conducted over a 1-5-year horizon. Epidemiological data, healthcare resource utilization, and cost inputs were obtained from clinical experts across six tertiary hospitals, national drug tenders, and regional databases. A bottom-up approach was used to estimate direct medical costs—including outpatient visits, diagnostics, pharmacotherapy, and surgeries—and indirect costs, such as productivity losses due to absenteeism.
RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of acromegaly in KSA was 560 patients, with 30% classified as having uncontrolled disease. The annual average cost per patient was SAR 115,839 for controlled cases and SAR 177,645 for uncontrolled cases. Over a five-year period, the cumulative per-patient cost rose to SAR 579,195 and SAR 702,825 accounting for disease state transitions. Indirect costs constituted 14% of total costs in controlled cases and 17.6% in uncontrolled cases. When extrapolated to the national prevalence, the total projected economic burden ranged from SAR 324.3 million to SAR 393.6 million over five years based on disease state transitions.
CONCLUSIONS: Acromegaly presents a significant economic burden to the healthcare system and society in Saudi Arabia, especially in patients with uncontrolled disease. These findings highlight the need for early diagnosis, optimized treatment pathways, and effective disease control strategies to reduce long-term healthcare expenditures and improve patient outcomes.
METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis was conducted over a 1-5-year horizon. Epidemiological data, healthcare resource utilization, and cost inputs were obtained from clinical experts across six tertiary hospitals, national drug tenders, and regional databases. A bottom-up approach was used to estimate direct medical costs—including outpatient visits, diagnostics, pharmacotherapy, and surgeries—and indirect costs, such as productivity losses due to absenteeism.
RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of acromegaly in KSA was 560 patients, with 30% classified as having uncontrolled disease. The annual average cost per patient was SAR 115,839 for controlled cases and SAR 177,645 for uncontrolled cases. Over a five-year period, the cumulative per-patient cost rose to SAR 579,195 and SAR 702,825 accounting for disease state transitions. Indirect costs constituted 14% of total costs in controlled cases and 17.6% in uncontrolled cases. When extrapolated to the national prevalence, the total projected economic burden ranged from SAR 324.3 million to SAR 393.6 million over five years based on disease state transitions.
CONCLUSIONS: Acromegaly presents a significant economic burden to the healthcare system and society in Saudi Arabia, especially in patients with uncontrolled disease. These findings highlight the need for early diagnosis, optimized treatment pathways, and effective disease control strategies to reduce long-term healthcare expenditures and improve patient outcomes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE698
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Rare & Orphan Diseases