Background: The primary characteristics of restless legs syndrome (RLS), including severe sleep disorders, restlessness in the evening and discomfort while at rest, have substantial impact on normal daily activities. Because of the high prevalence of RLS in the general population, it is...

Background: Osteoporosis is a condition marked by low bone mineral density and the deterioration of bone tissue. One of the main clinical and economic consequences of osteoporosis is skeletal fractures. Objective: To assess the healthcare and work loss costs of US patients with non-vertebral...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the CNS, typically striking adults during the primary productive time of their life. The symptoms of MS can restrict the individual's physical activity and income-earning ability, resulting in a major financial burden on the patient, family, health system...

Sleep disorders such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and fatigue, sleep deprivation and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are increasingly seen in clinical practice. Sleep is considered vital for preserving daytime cognitive function and physiological...

Background: The direct cost burden of epilepsy in the US from a third-party payer perspective has not been evaluated. Furthermore, no study has quantified the indirect (work-loss) cost burden of epilepsy from an employer perspective in the US. Objective: To assess the annual direct costs for...

Depression is a common, serious illness that affects millions of individuals, most often in their prime years of productivity. There is strong evidence that depression is as debilitating as most other general medical conditions and results in increased general medical resource utilisation. The...

Cost-of-illness (COI) studies seemingly provide a solid foundation for quantifying the potential benefits of illicit drug policy interventions that reduce drug use at the population level. However, their usefulness is severely limited. In this paper, we suggest several improvements to substance...

Depression is a highly prevalent condition that results in substantial functional impairment. Advocates have attempted in recent years to make the `business case' for investing in quality improvement efforts in depression care, particularly in primary care settings. The business case suggests...

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that afflicts young adults in their economically productive years. The goal of this study was to determine the costs of IBD in Germany from a societal perspective, using cost diaries. Methods: Members of the German Crohn's...