Health economics and social science research

Social sciences, heath economics and ethico-legal work underpin clinical research and are required for drug development and access in NMDs. Data on quality of life, burden of illness and patient preferences support decisions by companies, regulators and payers.

Our research has developed approaches for and provided first insights into the health economics of rare neuromuscular diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy and myotonic dystrophy, facilitated by collaborations with patient organisations, patient registries, academic networks and public-private partnerships. Shared decision-making and the ways individuals with neuromuscular diseases want to be engaged in research were explored at a recent ENMC workshop co-organised by Hanns and feature in the European IMI PREFER and Solve-RD projects.

Through our collaborative work in international projects we aim to ensure that the views and insights of individuals affected by rare diseases play a central role and that the impact of our research is maximised through secure mechanisms for data access and reuse.

Participants at ENMC workshop on shared decision-making

Relevant publications

Landfeldt, E, Pechmann, A, McMillan, HJ, Lochmüller, H, Sejersen, T. Costs of Illness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Systematic Review. Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2021.19 (4)501-520 PMID:33576939

Landfeldt, E, Nikolenko, N, Jimenez-Moreno, C, Cumming, S, Monckton, DG, Faber, CG et al.. Change over time in ability to perform activities of daily living in myotonic dystrophy type 1. J Neurol. 2020.267 (11)3235-3242 PMID:32542526

Landfeldt, E, Pogoryelova, O, Sejersen, T, Zethraeus, N, Breiner, A, Lochmüller, H et al.. Economic Costs of Myasthenia Gravis: A Systematic Review. Pharmacoeconomics. 2020.38 (7)715-728 PMID:32363541

Landfeldt, E, Thompson, R, Sejersen, T, McMillan, HJ, Kirschner, J, Lochmüller, H et al.. Life expectancy at birth in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol. 2020.35 (7)643-653 PMID:32107739

Landfeldt, E, Nikolenko, N, Jimenez-Moreno, C, Cumming, S, Monckton, DG, Faber, CG et al.. Activities of daily living in myotonic dystrophy type 1. Acta Neurol Scand. 2020.141 (5)380-387 PMID:31889295

Ambrosini, A, Quinlivan, R, Sansone, VA, Meijer, I, Schrijvers, G, Tibben, A et al.. "Be an ambassador for change that you would like to see": a call to action to all stakeholders for co-creation in healthcare and medical research to improve quality of life of people with a neuromuscular disease. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019.14 (1)126 PMID:31174585

Landfeldt, E, Edström, J, Sejersen, T, Tulinius, M, Lochmüller, H, Kirschner, J et al.. Quality of life of patients with spinal muscular atrophy: A systematic review. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2019.23 (3)347-356 PMID:30962132

Pogoryelova, O, Urtizberea, JA, Argov, Z, Nishino, I, Lochmüller, H, ENMC workshop study group et al.. 237th ENMC International Workshop: GNE myopathy - current and future research Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, 14-16 September 2018. Neuromuscul Disord. 2019.29 (5)401-410 PMID:30956020

Mascalzoni, D, Dove, ES, Rubinstein, Y, Dawkins, HJ, Kole, A, McCormack, P et al.. International Charter of principles for sharing bio-specimens and data. Eur J Hum Genet. 2015.23 (6)721-8 PMID:25248399

Landfeldt, E, Lindgren, P, Bell, CF, Schmitt, C, Guglieri, M, Straub, V et al.. The burden of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: an international, cross-sectional study. Neurology. 2014.83 (6)529-36 PMID:24991029