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This study estimates the lifetime societal costs associated with incident intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in Spain. An epidemiological model of ICH incidence, survival and morbidity was developed using retrospective data from 28 hospitals in Andalusia and published data identified in a systematic literature review. Data on resource utilization and costs were obtained from five hospitals in the Canary Islands, whereas cost of outpatient care, informal care and lost productivity were obtained from standardized questionnaires completed by survivors of ICH. The lifetime societal costs of incident ICH in Spain is estimated at €46 193 per patient. Direct medical costs accounted for 32.7% of lifetime costs, whilst 67.3% were related to indirect costs. One-third of direct medical costs over the first year were attributable to follow-up care, including rehabilitation. Indirect costs were dominated by costs of informal care (71.2%). The aggregated lifetime societal costs for the estimated 12 534 Spanish patients with a first-ever ICH in 2004 was €579 million. ICH implies substantial costs to society primarily due to formal and informal follow-up care and support needed after hospital discharge. Interventions that offer survival benefits without improving patients’ functional status are likely to further increase the societal costs of ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]