The economic burden of atherothrombosis in Greece: results from the THESIS study.

The aim of this study was to estimate the total annual cost of patients with or at risk for atherothrombosis in Greece. A multicentre, cost-of-illness study was conducted between January 2007 and December 2009. In the study, 800 patients with coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral artery disease (PAD) or multiple cardiovascular risk factors (MRF) were recruited. Direct and indirect cost data were assessed at patients' enrolment in the study, and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The annual total cost was €6,017/patient. This cost ranged from €10,098/patient with PAD to €1,813/patient with MRF. The annual direct health-care cost was €5,056/patient. This cost escalates from €1,623/patient with MRF to €8,697/patient with PAD. The total annual expenditures related to atherothrombosis, in Greece, were estimated to be €7.5 billion at the national level. The findings of the current study indicate the high economic burden of atherothrombosis in Greece.