How much does Lyme disease cost the United States?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829450

Clin Ther. 1998 Sep-Oct;20(5):993-1008; discussion 992.

A cost-of-illness study of Lyme disease in the United States.

Maes E¹, Lecomte P, Ray N.

Author information

Erratum in

Clin Ther 1999 Feb;21(2):430.

Abstract

Lyme disease produces a diverse clinical picture that can include serious and potentially debilitating cardiac, neurologic, joint, and skin involvement. It is characterized in three stages--early localized (stage I), early disseminated (stage II), and late disseminated (stage III)--and medical management is highly dependent on the stage at which the patient presents and the physician's awareness of available treatment options. This study was conducted to establish the medical and economic burden of Lyme disease in the overall US population, which included determining its endemicity in high-risk states and counties, describing current treatment patterns, measuring direct and indirect costs, and defining the cost burden by age group (<18 years and > or =18 years of age). Medical, epidemiologic, and economic data were collected, and an algorithm was developed representing the natural course of Lyme disease and the progress of health states over time following medical intervention. Using an annual mean incidence of 4.73 cases of Lyme disease per 100,000 population in the decision analysis model yielded an expected national expenditure of $2.5 billion (1996 dollars) over 5 years for therapeutic interventions to prevent 55,626 cases of Lyme disease sequelae. This estimate included both direct medical and indirect costs. However, there is evidence of considerable variation in incidence within states. Our findings support development of vaccination strategies for specific target groups.

……………………………………………………………

I found some additional data from the study…these costs were based on 1996 values

The treatment costs for early disseminated disease accounted for 36% of the total direct costs and 64% spent of antibiotic treatments as well as treatment of side effects.

 

With the costs of late disseminated disease, the values were reversed, 

roughly 2/3rds spent on treatment of the manifestations.

 

Early disseminated disease cost from: 

$731/per patient/per year for arthritis to 

$3,445/patient/year for cardiac sequelae

 

Costs for late disseminated:

Musculoskeletal complications $2740/patient/year and 

cardiac complications came to $8270/patient/year