The Costs of Parkinson's Disease in Europe: Results of the Costs of Illness in Neurology Initiative

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. It imposes substantial and growing burden on patients, families, and caregivers and reduces quality of life. The disability and care needs associated with PD carry economic ramifications. Objective The objective of the study was to estimate the socioeconomic costs of PD across 47 European countries in 2019. Methods Estimation is based on four steps: (1) determination of prevalence, (2) systematic review of costs, (3) data preparation and imputation, and (4) expert validation. Prevalence data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study (reference year: 2019). Direct, indirect, and informal care costs were analyzed. For countries lacking primary data, an imputation method was employed on the basis of gross national income categories and country‐specific economic indicators. Results Fourteen cost‐of‐illness studies met the inclusion criteria, with all but one being conducted in high‐income countries and no eligible data being available for lower‐middle‐income countries, which precluded cost estimation for these regions. The estimated total costs are €22.8 billion (2019, purchasing power parities [PPP]‐adjusted), of which €17.3 billion (76%) are direct costs, €1 billion (5%) are indirect costs, and €4.4 billion (19%) are informal care costs. The mean cost per patient was €14,278 (median: €8393). Conclusions The increasing economic burden of PD reflects its increasing prevalence, posing significant challenges for health care systems. Our findings emphasize the need for disease‐modifying therapies and preventive strategies. Considerable knowledge gaps remain in the cost‐of‐illness literature, particularly in lower‐middle‐income regions. The results provide evidence to inform political and health economic decision‐making.