Based on real-life data for the stage distribution of COPD patients (GOLD) and the actual stage-related treatment costs in a large nationwide cohort study (COSYCONET) 1, the influence of the reduced smoking rate on treatment costs was determined for the scenario of a reduction in the smoking rate of 26 % in this patient group by 10 percentage points to 16 %. The assumption was made that with a reduced smoking rate, lower stages (I/II) will be more strongly represented, while higher and more cost-intensive stages (III/IV) will be proportionally reduced. The intervention to achieve tobacco abstinence was calculated for the rough model calculations with the typical costs of a guideline-compliant treatment by a behavioral therapy group cessation program and the parallel use of medication support 2 3. The result showed a potential reduction of case costs by 10.5 %, not including reduction in costs associated with treatment of comorbidities.
- Hering, T.
- Batra, A.
- Mühlig, S.
- Nowak, D.
- Rüther, T.
- Schwarzkopf, L.
