OBJECTIVES: Vertebrogenic disease is the second most common disease that patients are visiting their general practitioner and/or rehabilitation facilities with. Besides direct costs, there are indirect costs incurred during the disease that are often higher than direct costs; hence, they are affecting the results of cost analyses. The aim of this study is to calculate the direct and indirect costs in patients with vertebral algic syndrome, and to analyse the impact of indirect costs on calculations carried out as a part of Health Technology Assessment.

METHODS: Quantitative research was conducted using questionnaires distributed to 150 patients, followed by cost of treatment calculation for four selected standard patients according to the type of occupation. The cost analysis consisted of direct and indirect costs calculations from the perspectives of the patient, payer, and healthcare provider. An adjusted Human Capital Approach method was used to calculate indirect costs from the patient's perspective.

RESULTS: The indirect costs were higher than the direct costs, ranging from 79.9% to 99% of total costs from the patient's perspective. The lowest indirect costs were CZK 1,966 and the highest ones were CZK 60,989. The indirect costs were studied from the healthcare provider's perspective only if the patient was not questioned out of rehabilitation. These costs were figured out at 61% of the total costs and amounted to CZK 706 for a 30-minute therapy. The direct costs of a rehabilitation cycle per patient were shown to be CZK 7,766 from the payer's perspective. Indirect costs from the perspective of the payer did not arise.

CONCLUSIONS: Indirect costs represent a large part of the total costs associated with the provision of health care services, particularly from patient's perspective. Not including these costs into the Health Technology Assessment calculations can greatly influence the results of the analyses.