OBJECTIVES: Endometriosis affects 2-10% of women of reproductive age and constitutes a significant, growing burden on patients, health care systems moreover the broader society. Our aim was to analyse the epidemiological and health insurance burden of endometriosis in Hungary.

METHODS: Data were derived from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) of Hungary for the year 2019. The data analysed included annual patient numbers, prevalence per 100 000 population in pharmaceuticals, health insurance costs calculated for age groups and sex for all types of care. The following health insurance treatment categories were included into our study: general practice care, home care, in- and outpatient care, medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and medical aids. Patients with endometriosis were identified with the code N8090 of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision.

RESULTS: The highest national patient numbers were found in outpatient care (6,827 women), followed by general practice care (4,770 women), and pharmaceuticals (3,237 women). Based on patient numbers relating to pharmaceuticals, prevalence in 100,000 among women was 63,5 patients. In 2019, the NHIFA spent 415.8 million HUF on the treatment of patients with endometriosis (1.43 million USD /1.28 million EUR). Pharmaceuticals (62.3% of total health insurance costs), acute inpatient care (17.1%) and outpatient care (6.7%) were the main cost drivers. The average annual treatment cost per patient was 128,446 HUF (442 USD/395 EUR) according to the pharmaceuticals. The highest patient number and annual health insurance costs were for women aged 30-39 and 40-49.

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the highest number of patients was in outpatient care. The prevalence of endometriosis showed significant differences by age group distribution. Pharmaceuticals was the major cost driver in the treatment of endometriosis.