OBJECTIVES: To compare the economic burden of multiple sclerosis (MS) in European countries and in Russia

METHODS: The results of the cross-sectional observational retrospective study of the socio-economic burden of MS "New insights into the burden and costs of MS is in Europe” (G.Kobelt et al. 2017;l 16 countries) were taken as a main data source. Direct and indirect costs were posted in the study. We conducted an in-depth comparative cost structure analysis in the countries. The total cost for each country based on the prevalence of MS was calculated. We used the the following ratios: DMTs share of total cost, total cost to GDP per capita. Costs were agjusted to 2015 roubles. 1 euro = 68 rubles in 2015 and 66 rubles in 2017 (mean, from ratestats.com)

RESULTS: Mean total average cost per patient with MS per year for all European country examined was about 2M ±882K rubles, for Russia 671K rubles. (minimum value). The average direct costs per patient reaches 949K ±370K rubles in general, in Russia 464K rubles (the minimum value). The DMTs costs in the total costs were highest in Russia (57.16%). Average value 30.97% ±14.36%. The lowest DMTs costs share in total costs were in the UK (11.49%), Netherlands (10.07%) and Sweden (10.04%). The total MS burden ranged from 393B rubles (Germany) to 8.8B rubles (Hungary), in Russia 78.8B rubles. The rate of total costs to GDP per capita for all countries was 84.64% ±23.06%, for Russia 41.05% (minimum value).

CONCLUSIONS: In Russia, the economic burden of MS (including direct and indirect costs) is relatively small in comparison with European countries; while the share of DMTs costs in Russia is the highest among the countries surveyed.