A cost-of-illness analysis estimating the socioeconomic burden of Parkinson's disease (PD) across 47 European countries in 2019, covering direct, indirect, and informal care costs using prevalence data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study and a systematic review of 14 eligible cost studies.
Total PD costs across Europe were €22.8 billion (PPP-adjusted): direct costs €17.3 billion (76%), informal care €4.4 billion (19%), and indirect costs €1 billion (5%). Mean cost per patient was €14,278 (median €8,393).
- Nearly all included studies were from high-income countries; no data were available for lower-middle-income countries, limiting generalizability. - Cost data required imputation for many countries, introducing estimation uncertainty. - Analysis is cross-sectional (2019 reference year), so it does not capture trends over time.
PD imposes a €22.8 billion annual economic burden in Europe, with direct medical costs making up three-quarters of spending — underscoring the urgent need for disease-modifying therapies and early preventive strategies. Clinicians should be aware that informal care (nearly 1 in 5 euros) represents a major hidden cost borne by families.
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