Lyme disease can cost billions

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH

The cases were identified based on the physicians’ determination in the medical record, patients’ clinical findings, tick exposure, and other relevant details (e.g., laboratory results). The mean costs of early Lyme disease consisted of $801 for direct medical costs, $259 for indirect medical costs, $52 for non-medical costs, and $196 for productivity costs. [1]

The cost of Lyme disease was even greater for individuals with chronic manifestations of the disease. The mean cost for these patients was $16,199 annually with early Lyme disease. Costs consisted of $1,872 for direct medical costs, $434 for indirect medical costs, $5,109 for non-medical costs, and $8,785 for productivity losses. [1]

The annual per-patient cost of chronic manifestations of Lyme disease was higher than the cost for other common chronic illnesses: $10,716 for rheumatoid arthritis [2], $10,911 for fibromyalgia [2], and $13,094 for lupus. [3]

A study by Aucott and colleagues confirmed the high number of Lyme disease cases with chronic manifestations, as described by Zhang. Thirty-six percent of individuals treated with 3 weeks of doxycycline for an erythema migrans rash suffered from  Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). [4]

“At 6 months, 36% of patients reported new-onset fatigue, 20% widespread pain, and 45% neurocognitive difficulties,” according to Aucott, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Patients who developed PTLDS had significantly lower life functioning compared to those without PTLDS.” [4]

The cost of Lyme disease to society is high, as well. After reviewing 23,763 cases reported in 2002 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zhang et al. found the financial impact of Lyme disease to be significant.

“The estimated nationwide annual economic impact of LD and relevant complaints was ≈$203 million (in 2002 dollars),” according to Zhang, from the CDC.

Zhang postulated that the cost of LD would be higher if the actual number of cases were higher. The actual number of Lyme disease cases is, in fact, significantly higher than the 23,763 cited by Zhang. The CDC now estimates there are at least 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year.

If we extrapolated the costs described by Zhang, along with the PTLDS patients described by Aucott, we would find the cost of Lyme disease for society would total as much as $2 billion annually.

Math:

Number of early and chronic/late LD in 2015:

64% x 300,000 cases of early LD = 192,000

36% x 300,000 cases of chronic/late = 108,000

Cost of LD to individual based on Zhang study:

Early LD = $1,310

Chronic/late LD = $16,199

Cost of LD to society in 2002 dollars:

$1,310 x 192,000  ≈ $251 million (early LD)

$16,199 x 108,000 ≈ $1.75 billion (late/chronic LD)

Zhang also postulated that the cost of LD would be higher if their analysis included the cost of illness for individuals who remained ill beyond the study period. “Our results are likely to underestimate the costs per case because some of the costs were not included. Costs that were omitted included any costs incurred by a patient beyond the study period,” reports Zhang. [5]

A recent study by Weitzner in Diagnostic Microbiologic Infectious Diseases reported that 11% of individuals suffered from PTLDS for more than a decade after treatment for culture-confirmed early LD. [6] The actual cost to individuals who remained ill for decades remains unknown.

Finally, Zhang pointed out that pain and suffering were not incorporated in the study. Weitzner did not address the pain and suffering for the 11% of individuals with PTLDS. [6] Both women (12.3%) and men (9.9%) suffered from PTLDS for more than a decade. [6]

So, how much does Lyme disease cost our society?  The answer is quite a lot, both to the individual and society. Such high costs undoubtedly supports the urgent need for more effective treatment regimens than a one time two to three week course of antibiotics. Watchful waiting is a risky and costly strategy in dealing with the Lyme disease epidemic.

The cost of Lyme disease to patients and society is discussed in this All Things Lyme video blog.

Sources:

1. Zhang X, Meltzer MI, Pena CA, Hopkins AB, Wroth L, Fix AD. Economic impact of Lyme disease. Emerg Infect Dis, 12(4), 653-660 (2006).
2. Silverman S, Dukes EM, Johnston SS, Brandenburg NA, Sadosky A, Huse DM. The economic burden of fibromyalgia: comparative analysis with rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Med Res Opin, 25(4), 829-840 (2009).
3. Clarke AE, Esdaile JM, Bloch DA, Lacaille D, Danoff DS, Fries JF. A Canadian study of the total medical costs for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and the predictors of costs. Arthritis Rheum, 36(11), 1548-1559 (1993).
4. Aucott JN, Rebman AW, Crowder LA, Kortte KB. Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome symptomatology and the impact on life functioning: is there something here? Qual Life Res, 22(1), 75-84 (2013).
5. Steere AC, Sikand VK, Schoen RT, Nowakowski J. Asymptomatic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Clin Infect Dis, 37(4), 528-532 (2003).
6. Weitzner E, Visintainer P, Wormser GP. Comparison of males versus females with culture-confirmed early Lyme disease at presentation and at 11-20 years after diagnosis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, (2016).