Economic burden of endometriosis

Fertil Steril. 2006 Dec;86(6):1561-72. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.06.015. Epub 2006 Oct 23.

Abstract

Objective: To comprehensively review and evaluate the direct costs of endometriosis.

Design and setting: We systematically reviewed studies published since 1990, and conducted an analysis of publicly available national databases (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey/National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey) in the United States. We assessed: [1] the overall economic impact of endometriosis; [2] the direct costs associated with specific treatments; and [3] the indirect costs of endometriosis associated with reduced work productivity.

Results: Of 13 published studies meeting inclusion criteria, 11 (85%) addressed direct costs, a few studies addressed outpatient costs or indirect costs, and no study quantified the economic impact among adolescents. Direct endometriosis-related costs were considerable and appeared driven by hospitalizations. Our database analysis found: [1] as endometriosis-related hospital length of stay steadily declined from 1993 to 2002, per-patient cost increased 61%; [2] adolescents (aged 10-17 years) had endometriosis-related hospitalizations; [3] approximately 50% of >600,000 endometriosis-related ambulatory patient visits involved specialist care; and [4] females 23 years old or younger constituted >20% of endometriosis-related outpatient visits.

Conclusions: Health economic information for endometriosis is scarce, limiting our understanding of its overall economic impact. Nevertheless, the literature and other available data suggest that endometriosis places a considerable burden on patients and society.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Comorbidity
  • Cost of Illness*
  • Employment / economics*
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data
  • Endometriosis / economics*
  • Endometriosis / epidemiology*
  • Endometriosis / therapy
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitalization / economics
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pelvic Pain / economics*
  • Pelvic Pain / epidemiology*
  • Pelvic Pain / therapy
  • United States / epidemiology