The increasing economic burden of Parkinson’s disease

The direct costs of PD care increase over decades with advancing age, mainly due to worsening disease severity.¹ Evidence from a study conducted within the Spanish healthcare system suggests that the increase in costs (direct and indirect) can be considerable, even in the earlier stages of PD.¹ An association of increased cost with disease progression was reported; motor symptoms, cognitive impairment, and pain had a direct impact on cost.¹

References:
1.Martinez-Martín P, Rodriguez-Blazquez C, Paz S, et al. Parkinson symptoms and health related quality of life as predictors of costs: a longitudinal observational study with linear mixed model analysis. PLoS One 2015; 10 (12): e0145310.