OBJECTIVES: No recent study on the medical costs of multiple-sclerosis (MS) has employed real world data to analyze relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). This paper analyzes the medical costs of RRMS to identify the causes of the high medical costs of MS. METHODS: We selected subjects from among active employees and their families who were covered by private health insurance from MedStat Commercial Data from 2005 to 2012. We developed logic to identify MS patients, MS relapses and RRMS patients and PPMS patients with claims data. The PPPM of RRMS patients was analyzed in cases where relapsing intervals were greater than the average interval length.

RESULTS: The PPPM of RRMS patients was $4,964 PPPM. The frequency of RRMS relapses was 3.2 times during 5 years. The PPPM of RRMS patients was reduced by $958 PPPM when relapsing intervals were increased by 1.2 times compared to the usual RRMS relapsing intervals. The PPPM of RRMS patients was reduced by $1,139 PPPM when relapsing intervals were increased by 1.5 times compared to the usual RRMS relapsing intervals.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of RRMS patients among MS patients was 87 %. The PPPM of relapses accounted for 83% of PPPM of RRMS. By restricting the frequency of relapses it is possible to reduce the PPPM of RRMS patients.