Health related quality of life and disease burden of patients with schizophrenia in Hungary

INTRODUCTION: According to the international literature disease burden of schizophrenia is substantial, however data from Eastern Central Europe is scarce. Our aim was to assess the quality of life and costs of patients with schizophrenia in Hungary. METHODS: A cross sectional questionnaire survey was performed in 3 hospital based psychiatry centres involving patients with schizophrenia. Demographics, disease severity (Clinical Global Impression, CGI), functional ability (Global Assessment of Functioning, GAF) and general health status (EQ-5D) was assessed. Health care utilisation and aids were surveyed for the past 12 months. Costing was performed from the societal perspective and human capital approach was applied. RESULTS: Altogether 78 patients (female 43.6%) were involved with a mean age of 44.2 (SD=13.1) years, disease duration was >10 years at 49 (62.8%) cases, 66 (84.6%) patients were disability pensioners. Distribution between CGI 3-4-5-6 levels were 12 (16%), 33 (43%), 21 (28%), 10 (13%) patients, respectively, mean GAF was 52.6 (SD=13.9). The average EQ-5D score was 0.64 (SD=0.3) and it was significantly worse than the age-matched general population's score in Hungary (p < 0.01). Mean yearly cost was 13 878 Euros/patient (conversion 1 Euro=280.6 HUF), the rate of direct medical,direct non-medical and indirect costs was 28.5%, 5.4% and 66.1%, respectively. Among direct costs hospitalisation and drug costs were dominant. Total cost correlates with disease severity (CGI). CONCLUSION: Schizophrenia leads to notable deterioration in health related quality of life and induce high costs to society, mainly due to the productivity loss of the patients. Nevertheless disease related costs in Hungary are lower than in economically more developed European countries. Our study offers basic data about disease burden of schizophrenia in Hungary to support clinical and health policy decision making.