Rafael Kmiliauskis Santos Gomes1, Fabio Antero Pires2, Moacyr Roberto Cuce Nobre3, Mauricio Felippi de Sá Marchi4, Jennifer Cristina Kozechen Rickli4. 1. Centro de Especialidades do Município de Blumenau, Blumenau, SC, Brazil; Centro de Especialidades do Município de Brusque, Brusque, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: gomesmed2002@ibest.com.br. 2. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Medicina, Unidade de Sistemas do Serviço de Informática, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 3. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Medicina, Unidade de Epidemiologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 4. Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Faculdade de Medicina, Blumenau, SC, Brazil.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: There are few studies that carried out a descriptive and trend analysis based on available data from the Unified Health System (SUS) between pre- and post-free dispensing of pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the perspective of the public health system, in terms of the direct cost of the disease among adults and elderly residents of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This study aims to characterize the direct cost of medical and surgical procedures before and after the dispensing of drugs in this state. METHODS: This is a time series-type study with a cross-sectional survey of data from the Hospital (SIH) and Outpatient (SIA) Information System of SUS during the period from 1996 to 2009. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2009, the total expenditure for hospital- and outpatient pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis was R$ 26,659,127.20. After the dispensing of drug treatment by SUS a decrease of 36% in the number of hospital admissions was observed; however, an increase of 19% in clinical procedures was noted. CONCLUSION: During the observed period, a reduction in the number of hospital admissions for both clinical and orthopedic surgical procedures related to this disease was observed. Nevertheless, there was an increase in the cost of medical admissions.
INTRODUCTION: There are few studies that carried out a descriptive and trend analysis based on available data from the Unified Health System (SUS) between pre- and post-free dispensing of pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the perspective of the public health system, in terms of the direct cost of the disease among adults and elderly residents of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This study aims to characterize the direct cost of medical and surgical procedures before and after the dispensing of drugs in this state. METHODS: This is a time series-type study with a cross-sectional survey of data from the Hospital (SIH) and Outpatient (SIA) Information System of SUS during the period from 1996 to 2009. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2009, the total expenditure for hospital- and outpatient pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis was R$ 26,659,127.20. After the dispensing of drug treatment by SUS a decrease of 36% in the number of hospital admissions was observed; however, an increase of 19% in clinical procedures was noted. CONCLUSION: During the observed period, a reduction in the number of hospital admissions for both clinical and orthopedic surgical procedures related to this disease was observed. Nevertheless, there was an increase in the cost of medical admissions.