Summary
The burden of illness of osteoporosis in New Zealand is substantial. Prevalence estimates based on international research suggest that up to 30% of postmenopausal women may have osteoporosis. The projected increase in population of women aged ≥60 years suggests that the burden of illness associated with osteoporosis will escalate.
Currently, cost estimates in New Zealand for specific procedures are severely limited by the absence of a comprehensive, nationwide, case-mix system of costing. In this analysis, first-year total direct costs of hospitalisation, recovery and residential care associated with osteoporotic hip fractures, assuming an annual incidence of 1537.63 such fractures in New Zealand women aged ≥60 years, were estimated at $NZ41 684 460 [1995 dollars ($NZ1 = $US0.65 in 1995)]. Secondyear costs were $NZ24 952 895. The combined total over 2 years post-hip fracture was estimated to be $NZ66 637 355. Annual non-hip fracture costs for women aged ≥45 years were estimated at $NZ4 401 248.
Pharmacotherapy data for the treatment of osteoporosis indicate that the societal costs of treating the diagnosed condition for men and women in New Zealand are $NZ3 385 590 per year (1995 dollars).
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Lane, A. Direct Costs of Osteoporosis For New Zealand Women. Pharmacoeconomics 9, 231–245 (1996). https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199609030-00005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199609030-00005