BackgroundAcute pain is among the leading causes of referral to the emergency department (ED) in industrialized countries. Its management mainly depends on intensity. Moderate-to-severe pain is treated with intravenous (IV) administered opioids, of which morphine is the most commonly used in the ED. We have estimated the burden of IV administration of morphine in the five key European countries (EU5) using a micro-costing approach.ScopeA structured literature review was conducted to identify clinical guidelines for acute pain management in EU5 and clinical studies conducted in the ED setting. The data identified in this literature review constituted the source for all model input parameters, which were clustered as analgesic (morphine), material used for IV morphine administration, nurse workforce time and management of morphine-related adverse events and IV-related complications.FindingsThe cost per patient of IV morphine administration in the ED ranges between €18.31 in Spain and €28.38 in Germany. If costs associated with the management of morphine-related adverse events and IV-related complications are also considered, the total costs amount to €121.13–€132.43. The main driver of those total costs is the management of IV-related complications (phlebitis, extravasation and IV prescription errors; 73% of all costs) followed by workforce time (14%).ConclusionsIV morphine provides effective pain relief in the ED, but the costs associated with the IV administration inflict an economic burden on the respective national health services in EU5. An equally rapid-onset and efficacious analgesic that does not require IV administration could reduce this burden.

developing decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In Romania, morbidity and associated costs will continue to increase under current treatment levels. Annual mortality in Romania due to HCV is estimated to increase by > 70% between 2015 and 2040. ConClusions: Under current standard of care, France will reduce the current burden of HCV substantially by 2025 but must couple this with screening in order to be able to achieve complete elimination. On the contrary, Romania faces a future with significantly higher burden of HCV unless treatment levels are increased.