Parkinson’s disease cost European countries €22.8 billion in 2019, equivalent to €28.8 billion in 2025 prices, according to a study published in the scientific journal Movement Disorders.
As the number of people living with Parkinson’s continues to rise, researchers warn that healthcare and social care systems are likely to face increasing pressure.
Parkinson’s disease ranks as the second most common and fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. In Europe, its prevalence has almost doubled since 1990, rising from 135 to 247 cases per 100,000 people. Researchers attribute the increase partly to an ageing population and improved diagnosis.
The study estimates that around 2.2 million adults lived with Parkinson’s disease across 47 European countries in 2019.
Of the total economic burden, €17.3 billion covered direct medical and non-medical costs, including hospital care, medication, social care and home adaptations.
A further €4.4 billion represented informal, unpaid care provided by family members and friends, while €1 billioncame from indirect costs linked to lost productivity.
Germany Recorded the Highest Cost
Germany recorded the highest national economic burden at €5.7 billion, followed by:
- France: €5.3 billion
- Italy: €2.6 billion
- Spain: €1.9 billion
- United Kingdom: €1.6 billion
Together, these five countries accounted for approximately 75% of Parkinson’s disease’s total economic burden in Europe.
“The concentration of costs in these five countries probably reflects a combination of factors,” said Professor Richard Dodel from the University of Duisburg-Essen.
These factors include their large populations, the higher prevalence of Parkinson’s among older people, higher healthcare costs in wealthier countries and greater availability of data.
Major Data Gaps Remain
The study also identified significant gaps in the available evidence.
Of the 14 cost-of-illness studies included in the analysis, 13 came from high-income countries. Researchers found no suitable primary data for low- and middle-income countries.
As a result, the €22.8 billion estimate covers 43 of the 47 countries for which researchers assessed Parkinson’s disease prevalence.
The authors call for standardised methods to measure the cost of Parkinson’s disease. They say consistent and comparable data would help governments and health authorities plan services more effectively and make better-informed policy decisions.
The research forms part of the Cost of Illness in Neurology in Europe (COIN-Eu) initiative, led by the European Academy of Neurology. The initiative aims to quantify the social and economic burden of major neurological diseases across Europe.
