Economic costs and quality of life in chronic inflammatory neuropathies in southeast England

Background and purpose: Cost-of-illness studies and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measurements are needed to assess the effects of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and paraproteinaemic demyelinating neuropathy (PDN) on society. Methods: This study was conducted in 2008 in a southeast England population of 3 557 352 people. Data on service use and treatment were collected with a client service receipt inventory and service costs were calculated by combining these data with national unit costs. The EuroQol was used to calculate utility scores, a measurement of HRQoL. Results: The total annual cost-of-illness per patient was £22 085 for CIDP, £22 812 for MMN and £7566 for PDN. The annual total cost per patient was £49 430 for individuals on intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and £9046 for those not on IVIg (P < 0.01). The mean (SD) utility scores were 0.62 (0.23) for CIDP, 0.63 (0.22) for PDN and 0.72 (0.14) for MMN (P = 0.52). The mean (SD) utility score for those on IVIg was 0.65 (0.16) and those not on IVIg 0.63 (0.23) (P = 0.77). Conclusion: The use of IVIg was the most important determinant of cost in all three diseases and the higher frequency of its use in CIDP and MMN accounted for the much greater average cost per patient in these diseases. There was no significant difference in HRQoL amongst the three diseases or between those receiving or not receiving IVIg.