This study utilizes estimates of direct healthcare expenditure to examine the economic impact of a subset of common brain related disorders.

The 21 brain disorders included within the study encompass mental health disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders, neurological disorders, among others. Brain related disorders are a significant driver of health burden globally. Disorders included within the current study accounted for 3.7 billion prevalent cases globally in 2019. The economic impact of these disorders, in aggregate, has yet to be extensively quantified in such detail.

We utilized the modelling framework from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) to estimate disease prevalence and years of life lived with disability (YLDs) due to 21 brain disorders from 2000 to 2019. By multiplying GBD measure of disease prevalence, relative prices of direct healthcare services developed in-house, and a scaling factor to match the National Health Accounts framework, we estimated the direct healthcare expenditure on each condition, within aggregate. Total aggregates are further broken down to delineate cost by finance source and type of care. All cost estimates were adjusted to 2021 US dollars.  

Our estimates show that direct healthcare expenditure on the 21 brain disorders was $1.14 trillion globally and $409 billion in the US in 2019, with annual growth rates of 3.5% and 3.3% respectively since 2000. Further global analysis show that government spending accounts for the majority of expenditure, except in South Asia. In the US, ambulatory care accounts for the largest percentage of care related expenditure. 

Our estimates highlight the substantial economic burden of brain disorders globally, and in the US. The rising cost of the economic burden associated with brain health disorders could be significantly lessened with proactive engagement towards preemptive treatments of chronic brain related conditions.