Economic burden of severe cardiovascular diseases in Brazil: an estimate based on secondary data.
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 (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 an yearly average direct cost of R$182.00 per capita (R$ 87.00 from public resources) and of R$ 3,514.00 per case.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.
Maria Inês Reinert
MI
Azambuja
Murilo
M
Foppa
Mário Fernando de Camargo
MF
Maranhão
Aloyzio Cechella
AC
Achutti
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data