Cost Of Illness

BOSTON — After progressing to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, or GOLD, group E, patients with COPD faced higher costs and used health care resources more, according to a poster presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting.

In the U.S., the projected cost attributable to COPD in 2029 is $60.5 billion, which is nearly twice the 2019 estimated costs of $31.3 billion, according to findings published in CHEST.

Glaucoma appeared tied to significant costs not only for individuals, but also for society as a result of premature retirement and loss of productivity, according to a study conducted in Finland and published in PLOS One.

More patients without continuous airway positive pressure coverage in their region said that cost affected their choice of treatment than patients with CPAP coverage, according to results published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Despite the number of new medications produced to treat a range of neurologic diseases, limited utilization is driven by relatively high cost and similar efficacy to less expensive drugs, according to a study published in Neurology.

The total annual costs for the family of a patient with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are substantial, ranging from $1,122 to $44,832, with the highest dollar amounts spent on medication and medical appointments, according to data.

You will never hear me say that I’ve heard everything as an eye doctor. As in, “now I’ve heard everything.” Not from me. Uh-uh. Just today in the office, we received not one but two cakes from someone called a “cake ambassador.” Have you ever heard of a cake ambassador? Me either. I have no idea what a cake ambassador is or what they do, but judging from my first encounter today — two cakes out of nowhere! — I think I need to learn more about them.