The Hidden Costs of Multiple Sclerosis in Italy

In Italy, researchers recently took a close look at the financial burden of multiple sclerosis (MS) on patients receiving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). They studied 393 MS patients, mostly women around 45 years old, with a form of MS called relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). On average, each patient's yearly costs came to about €20, 300. Costs went up with the severity of the disease, ranging from €16, 800 for minor cases to €44, 400 for severe ones. A big chunk of these costs, about 62. 5%, was due to the therapies themselves. Losing the ability to work also added to the financial strain, accounting for 22% of the total costs. Even though many patients kept their jobs, about a third faced some loss in productivity. This study shows that as MS gets worse, people's quality of life, energy levels, and ability to work all take a hit, driving up the total costs. It's a wake-up call for the impact MS has on both people's lives and the healthcare system. The findings can help in planning resources and figuring out how much money can be saved by slowing down the disease.