ECONOMIC BURDEN OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS: SOCIETAL COST-OF-ILLNESS ASSESSMENT IN FRANCE
Author(s)
Ryma Hidra, PharmD1, JULIEN DUPIN, MASc2, Julie Assedo, Master's degree3, Laetitia Rey, PharmD4, Ghassene Allegue, MSc, PharmD4, Chloe Gerves-Pinquie, Doctorate4.
1Health economics manager, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, Issy Les Moulineaux, France, 2Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France, 3Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, Issy les Moulineaux, France, 4IQVIA, Paris, France.
1Health economics manager, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, Issy Les Moulineaux, France, 2Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France, 3Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, Issy les Moulineaux, France, 4IQVIA, Paris, France.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the societal economic burden of myasthenia gravis (MG) in France, based on medical-administrative data and complementary published literature.
METHODS: A societal cost‑of‑illness framework was developed to estimate annual costs for patients and informal caregivers, including direct and indirect costs. Data from the SNDS (Système National des Données de Santé) RELIEF study, including patients with at least one MG‑related care informed direct medical costs, disability pensions, and transportation expenses. A targeted literature review (2015-2025) identified complementary evidence on indirect and non-medical costs associated with MG, based on 15 studies from the US, Europe, and multi-country settings, prioritizing French‑specific data when available. A structured data‑extraction grid was applied to identify and value time losses (absenteeism, early retirement, presenteeism, personal activities), out‑of‑pocket, and direct non‑medical costs. When costs were not directly estimated, the human capital approach was used. Inclusion of intangible costs and patients’ out‑of‑pocket expenses was explored in sensitivity analyses. Costs were harmonized to annual units, converted to euros and inflated.
RESULTS: In the base case (2025 price-year), the societal cost of MG was approximately €28,900 per patient-year, with €12,359 (≈43%) covered by the French National Health Insurance. Patient-related costs accounted for most of the burden (≈€25,300), driven by productivity losses (€17,759, ≈61%), followed by direct medical costs (€7,227, 25%). Caregiver-related costs contributed €3,606 (12%), mainly driven by early retirement (€2,445, 8%) and absenteeism (€856, 3%). Including out-of-pocket expenses increased the estimated burden by 23%, while adding intangible costs increased total estimates by 44%.
CONCLUSIONS: Myasthenia gravis is associated with a substantial societal economic burden in a French context, predominantly driven by productivity losses among patients and caregivers. Failing to account for these costs would result in a major underestimation of its overall economic burden. These findings are consistent with those reported in other European studies.
METHODS: A societal cost‑of‑illness framework was developed to estimate annual costs for patients and informal caregivers, including direct and indirect costs. Data from the SNDS (Système National des Données de Santé) RELIEF study, including patients with at least one MG‑related care informed direct medical costs, disability pensions, and transportation expenses. A targeted literature review (2015-2025) identified complementary evidence on indirect and non-medical costs associated with MG, based on 15 studies from the US, Europe, and multi-country settings, prioritizing French‑specific data when available. A structured data‑extraction grid was applied to identify and value time losses (absenteeism, early retirement, presenteeism, personal activities), out‑of‑pocket, and direct non‑medical costs. When costs were not directly estimated, the human capital approach was used. Inclusion of intangible costs and patients’ out‑of‑pocket expenses was explored in sensitivity analyses. Costs were harmonized to annual units, converted to euros and inflated.
RESULTS: In the base case (2025 price-year), the societal cost of MG was approximately €28,900 per patient-year, with €12,359 (≈43%) covered by the French National Health Insurance. Patient-related costs accounted for most of the burden (≈€25,300), driven by productivity losses (€17,759, ≈61%), followed by direct medical costs (€7,227, 25%). Caregiver-related costs contributed €3,606 (12%), mainly driven by early retirement (€2,445, 8%) and absenteeism (€856, 3%). Including out-of-pocket expenses increased the estimated burden by 23%, while adding intangible costs increased total estimates by 44%.
CONCLUSIONS: Myasthenia gravis is associated with a substantial societal economic burden in a French context, predominantly driven by productivity losses among patients and caregivers. Failing to account for these costs would result in a major underestimation of its overall economic burden. These findings are consistent with those reported in other European studies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE253
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Rare & Orphan Diseases