Title |
Health care and societal costs of the management of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Spain: a descriptive analysis
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Published in |
BMC Psychiatry, February 2018
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DOI | 10.1186/s12888-017-1581-y |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Javier Quintero, Josep A. Ramos-Quiroga, Javier San Sebastián, Francisco Montañés, Alberto Fernández-Jaén, José Martínez-Raga, Marta García Giral, Montserrat Graell, María J. Mardomingo, César Soutullo, Jesús Eiris, Montserrat Téllez, Montserrat Pamias, Javier Correas, Juncal Sabaté, Laura García-Orti, José A. Alda |
Abstract |
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition in childhood (5.3% to 7.1% worldwide prevalence), with substantial overall financial burden to children/adolescents, their families, and society. The aims of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics of children and adolescents with ADHD in Spain, estimate the associated direct/indirect costs of the disorder, and assess whether the characteristics and financial costs differed between children/adolescents adequately responding to currently available pharmacotherapies compared with children/adolescents for whom pharmacotherapies failed. This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive analysis conducted in 15 health units representative of the overall Spanish population. Data on demographic characteristics, socio-occupational status, social relationships, clinical variables of the disease, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments received were collected in 321 children and adolescents with ADHD. Direct and indirect costs were estimated over one year from both a health care system and a societal perspective. The estimated average cost of ADHD per year per child/adolescent was €5733 in 2012 prices; direct costs accounted for 60.2% of the total costs (€3450). Support from a psychologist/educational psychologist represented 45.2% of direct costs and 27.2% of total costs. Pharmacotherapy accounted for 25.8% of direct costs and 15.5% of total costs. Among indirect costs (€2283), 65.2% was due to caregiver expenses. The total annual costs were significantly higher for children/adolescents who responded poorly to pharmacological treatment (€7654 versus €5517; P = 0.024), the difference being mainly due to significantly higher direct costs, particularly with larger expenses for non-pharmacological treatment (P = 0.012). ADHD has a significant personal, familial, and financial impact on the Spanish health system and society. Successful pharmacological intervention was associated with lower overall expenses in the management of the disorder. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Spain | 10 | 71% |
Chile | 1 | 7% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 7% |
Unknown | 2 | 14% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 6 | 43% |
Members of the public | 6 | 43% |
Scientists | 2 | 14% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 125 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 15 | 12% |
Student > Bachelor | 13 | 10% |
Other | 10 | 8% |
Student > Master | 9 | 7% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 8 | 6% |
Other | 24 | 19% |
Unknown | 46 | 37% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 18 | 14% |
Psychology | 15 | 12% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 5% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 6 | 5% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 5 | 4% |
Other | 17 | 14% |
Unknown | 58 | 46% |