Two-year Vascular Hospitalisation Rates and Associated Costs in Patients at Risk of Atherothrombosis in France and Germany: Highest Burden for Peripheral Arterial Disease

ObjectivesTo obtain Western European perspectives on the economic burden of atherothrombosis in patients with multiple risk factors only (MRF), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and in the under-evaluated group of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we examined vascular-related hospitalisation rates and associated costs in France and Germany.DesignThe prospective REACH Registry enrolled 4693 patients in France, and 5594 patients in Germany (from December 2003 until June 2004).MethodsFor each country, 2-year rates and costs associated with cardiovascular events and vascular-related hospitalisations were examined for patients with MRF, CVD, CAD, and PAD.ResultsTwo-year hospitalisation costs were highest for patients with PAD (3182.1€ for France; 2724.4€ for Germany) and lowest for the MRF group (749.1€ for France; 503.3€ for Germany). Peripheral revascularizations and amputations were the greatest contributors to costs for all risk groups. Across all PAD subgroups, peripheral procedures constituted approximately half of the 2-year costs.ConclusionHospitalisation rates and costs associated with atherothrombotic disease in France and Germany are high, especially so for patients with PAD.