The economic impact of prevention, monitoring and treatment strategies for iodine deficiency disorders in Germany

Abstract

Objective: More than 30 percent of the German population suffers from mild to moderate iodine deficiency causing goiter and other iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). The economic burden of iodine deficiency is still unclear. We aimed to assess costs for prevention, monitoring and treatment of IDDs in Germany. Design: We performed a comprehensive cost analysis. Methods: We assessed direct medical costs and direct non-medical costs for inpatient and outpatient care of IDDs and costs for productivity loss due to absence of work in 2018 Euro. Additionally, we calculated total costs for an IDD prevention program comprising universal salt iodization (USI). We performed threshold analyses projecting how many cases of IDDs or related treatments would need to be avoided for USI to be cost saving. Results: Annual average costs per case in the year of diagnosis were EUR 211 for goiter/thyroid nodules; EUR 308 for hyperthyroidism; and EUR 274 for hypothyroidism. Average one-time costs for thyroidectomy were EUR 4,184 and EUR 3,118 for radioiodine therapy. Average costs for one case of spontaneous abortion were EUR 916. Annual costs of intellectual disability were 14,202 Euro. In the German population, total annual costs for USI would amount to 8 million Euro. To be cost saving, USI would need to prevent, for example, 37,900 cases of goiter/thyroid nodules. Conclusion: USI potentially saves costs, if a minimum amount of IDDs per year could be avoided. In order to recommend the implementation of USI, a full health-economic evaluation including a comprehensive benefit-harm assessment is needed.

The Selection of the Optimal Impregnation Conditions of Vegetable Matrices with Iodine

“…Food fortification is a relatively simple and highly effective method of preventing and treating the most common nutrient deficiencies in the population, including iodine deficiency [ 6 , 18 , 43 ]. Economically and politically, it is quite profitable and is easily accepted by society [ 40 , 44 ]. It can be nationally standardized and controlled.…”

Os Impactos Que as Deficiências Por Minerais Trazem À Saúde Da População Mundial Nas Entrelinhas De Uma Revisão Integrativa

“…Ao total chegou-se a um montante de custos anuais de 8 milhões de euros incluindo diagnósticos, tireoidectómicas, terapias com radio iodo, deficiência intelectual e aborto espontâneo. (33) O custo da suplementação do iodo na população no Reino Unido gerou uma economia aos cofres públicos de 199 libras esterlinas por gestante e, do ponto de vista social 4.476, que incluem custos de serviços sociais e custos de educação. (34) Já a vitamina D apresenta maior facilidade na sua avaliação laboratorial e diversidade de trabalhos sobre suas doses terapêuticas e formas de avaliação e suplementação.…”

Correct and Incorrect Recommendations for or against Fine Needle Biopsies of Hypofunctioning Thyroid Nodules: Performance of Different Ultrasound-based Risk Stratification Systems

“…Thyroid nodules (TNs) are very common as a consequence of iodine deficiency, which affects many countries, among them also Germany [1][2][3]. More than 30 % of the population in this country suffer from mild to moderate iodine deficiency, although substantial progress has been made in recent decades in eliminating this deficiency [4,5]. The vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign.…”