Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro1,2, Everton Nunes da Silva3, Maurits van Tulder4,5. 1. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. rodrigocarregaro@unb.br. 2. School of Physical Therapy, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus UnB Ceilândia, Centro Metropolitano, conjunto A, lote 01, Brasília, DF, 72220-275, Brazil. rodrigocarregaro@unb.br. 3. School of Collective Health, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus UnB Ceilândia, Brasília, Brazil. 4. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the direct healthcare costs of spinal disorders in Brazil over 2016. METHODS: This is a prevalence-based cost-of-illness study with a top-down approach from the perspective of the public healthcare system. All international Classification of Diseases codes related to spinal disorders were included. The following costs were obtained: (1) hospitalization; medical professional service costs; intensive care unit costs; companion daily stay; (2) outpatient (services/procedures). Data were analyzed descriptively and costs presented in US$. RESULTS: The healthcare system spent US$ 71.4 million, and inpatient care represented 58%. The number of inpatient days was 250,426, and there were 36,654 hospital admissions (dorsalgia and disk disorders representing 70% of the costs). More than 114,000 magnetic resonance scans and 107,000 computerized tomography scans were adopted. Men had more inpatient days (138,215) than women (112,211). Overall, the inpatient/outpatient cost ratio was twice as high for men. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the direct costs of spinal disorders in Brazil in 2016 were considerable. We also found a substantial amount of financial resources spent on diagnostic imaging. This is relevant as the routine use of diagnostic imaging for back pain is discouraged in international guidelines.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the direct healthcare costs of spinal disorders in Brazil over 2016. METHODS: This is a prevalence-based cost-of-illness study with a top-down approach from the perspective of the public healthcare system. All international Classification of Diseases codes related to spinal disorders were included. The following costs were obtained: (1) hospitalization; medical professional service costs; intensive care unit costs; companion daily stay; (2) outpatient (services/procedures). Data were analyzed descriptively and costs presented in US$. RESULTS: The healthcare system spent US$ 71.4 million, and inpatient care represented 58%. The number of inpatient days was 250,426, and there were 36,654 hospital admissions (dorsalgia and disk disorders representing 70% of the costs). More than 114,000 magnetic resonance scans and 107,000 computerized tomography scans were adopted. Men had more inpatient days (138,215) than women (112,211). Overall, the inpatient/outpatient cost ratio was twice as high for men. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the direct costs of spinal disorders in Brazil in 2016 were considerable. We also found a substantial amount of financial resources spent on diagnostic imaging. This is relevant as the routine use of diagnostic imaging for back pain is discouraged in international guidelines.
Entities:
Keywords:
Ambulatory care; Back pain; Cost of illness; Costs and cost analysis; Hospital costs
Authors: Sweekriti Sharma; Adrian C Traeger; Ben Reed; Melanie Hamilton; Denise A O'Connor; Tammy C Hoffmann; Carissa Bonner; Rachelle Buchbinder; Chris G Maher Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-08-23 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Danielle M Coombs; Gustavo C Machado; Bethan Richards; Ross Wilson; Jimmy Chan; Hannah Storey; Chris G Maher Journal: Lancet Reg Health West Pac Date: 2021-01-29