Economic impact of gastroenteritis in Ireland

• Project start date: 1 April 2004
• Project status: Completed
• Project type: Food safety
• Discipline: Food safety - other
• Author/s: Prof Jennifer Roberts, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Collaborator/s: Prof Charles Normand, Trinity College Dublin

Research objective

The main objective of this study was to estimate the economic burden of gastroenteritis on the island of Ireland. This included assessing the annual incidence of gastroenteritis, utilisation of healthcare services, and associated costs to hospitals, primary care, individuals, and the wider economy. Additionally, the study aimed to measure the severity of the disease based on the need for hospitalisation and other community health services. This comprehensive analysis sought to quantify both direct and indirect costs, providing a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of preventive measures.

Research report

• Title: The Economic Impact of Gastroenteritis on the Island of Ireland
• Date: 6 February 2007
• Summary: The study aimed to estimate the economic burden of gastroenteritis across Ireland, North and South. It utilised routine data on healthcare usage, including hospital admissions and GP consultations, complemented by a patient survey to assess costs borne by individuals and their families. This approach provided a detailed account of the disease's financial impact, encompassing healthcare costs and economic losses due to absenteeism.
• Findings:

   

  Incidence rates

  • Hospitalisation: 1.0–1.1 per 1,000 person-years.
  • GP in-hours: 28–46 per 1,000 person-years.
  • GP out-of-hours: 38–40 per 1,000 person-years.
  • Community incidence: 168–754 per 1,000 person-years.

  Cost estimates

  • Hospital costs: €8.8 million (£5.9 million).
  • Out-of-hours GP costs: €49.4 million (£33.3 million).
  • In-hours GP costs: €53.3 million (£36.0 million).
  • Community costs: €24.1 million (£16.3 million).
  • Total estimated costs: €135.6 million (£91.5 million) for the island of Ireland.

  Service usage variance

  • Higher GP in-hours service usage in Ireland compared to Northern Ireland.
  • Northern Ireland exhibited higher utilisation of out-of-hours GP services.
• Recommendations:
  1. Comprehensive cost analysis: Future studies should include all forms of healthcare contact, including those not reaching formal services.
  2. Prevention focus: Strategies to prevent gastroenteritis could significantly reduce economic burden; even partial success could save millions.
  3. Public health interventions: Development of preventive measures should focus on high-incidence areas and effective health communication strategies.
  4. Policy development: The study provides a benchmark for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions, suggesting that investment in prevention could yield substantial economic savings.

  This detailed understanding of the costs associated with gastroenteritis supports informed decision-making in public health policy and resource allocation.