Economic Burden of Severe Cardiovascular Diseases in Brazil

Economic Burden of Severe Cardiovascular Diseases in Brazil:
an Estimate Based on Secondary Data
Maria Inês Reinert Azambuja1, Murilo Foppa1,2, Mário Fernando de Camargo Maranhão3, Aloyzio Cechella Achutti2
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Medical School, Graduate studies in epidemiology1, Moinhos de Vento Hospital, Cardiology Division, Porto Alegre, RS2; Evangelical Medical School, Curitiba, PR3 - Brazil
Summary
Background: The scarce amount of data available in Brazil on the economic burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) does not justify the growing concern in regard to the economic burden involved.
Objective: The present study aims at estimating the costs of severe CVD cases in Brazil.
Methods: Cases of severe CVD were estimated based on hospitalized cases lethality and total CVD mortality rates. National data bases and sample studies were used to estimate costs of hospitalization, outpatient care, and social security benefits. Loss of income was estimated from the Burden of Disease in Brazil data.
Results: Approximately two million cases of severe CVD were reported in 2004 in Brazil. That accounts for 5.2% of the population over 35 years of age. The resulting annual cost was at least R$ 30.8 billion (U$1=R$2.93; 2004) (36.4% for health care, 8.4% for social security and employers’ reimbursements, and 55.2% due to loss in productivity). That corresponded to R$ 500.00 per capita (considering 35 year-old and older population) and R$ 9,400.00 per patient. Direct costs with health care from severe CVD cases accounted for 8% of total national expenditure on health and 0.52% of 2004 GNP (R$ 1,767 billion = US$ 602 billion). That corresponded to a yearly average direct cost of R$182.00 per capita (R$ 87.00 from public resources) and of R$ 3,514.00 per case.
Conclusion: Total annual costs per severe CVD case were estimated to be significant. Costs per capita and total costs corresponding to this sub-group of CVD patients are expected to escalate as the population ages and the prevalence of severe cases increases. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2008;91(3):148-155)
Key words: Cardiovascular diseases/epidemiology; ischemic heart disease/epidemiology; cerebrovascular disease/epidemiology; health economics.