OBJECTIVES: Parkinson`s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease causing motor and non-motor symptoms, disability and loss of quality of life (QoL). The purpose of the present study was to assess the current health and economic burden of disease in the prevalent cohort of patients with PD.

METHODS: In Finland, patients with PD (ICD-10 G20) have a special medicine reimbursement status (code 110) provided by the Social Insurance Institution (SII) to cover the costs of PD medications. The number of these patients with ICD-10 code G20 and reimbursement code 110 was extracted from the national special medicine reimbursement register maintained by the SII. Data was collected for year 2016 and it was stratified by age and sex. Resource use of PD patients and age and sex adjusted background population was calculated from the database of National Institution of Health and Welfare. Incremental and total costs of primary -, special - and social care were extrapolated to current PD population. Estimated loss of QoL was obtained from published literature.

RESULTS: In 2016, there were 15 600 PD patients, of which 1891 received code 110 status during the year 2016 in Finland. The total and incremental costs of PD population were 273 M€ and 158 M€, respectively. Main difference against background population was in social care usage and in younger patient population. Mean cost of PD patients and background population were 17 000€ and 7 200€, respectively. Incremental loss of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) was 5167.

CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional, register-based study showed that PD causes a significant health and economic burden for the Finnish society. Due to ageing population, the number of PD patients and related costs to health and social care could be expected to increase during the coming years.