Social costs of two cataract surgical techniques in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To compare postoperative social costs of two cataract surgical techniques, phacoemulsification (PHACO) and extracapsular extraction (ECCE).


METHODS
Prospective randomized intervention study including 205 patients, of which 101 underwent PHACO and 104 ECCE in the public service, in the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, in 2002. The socioeconomic impact of these surgical procedures was assessed based on postoperative costs for patients, employers and social security. Comparisons between the two groups studied were performed using the chi-square test or Mann-Whitney test, when appropriate. A 5% significance level was set.


RESULTS
Hospital and eyeglasses costs for PHACO were lower than for ECCE patients, with a mean difference of US$ 16.74. Costs to employers related to medical leave for the first 15 days of absence and costs of caregivers in the form of absence from work to attend postoperative follow-up visits were on average US$ 0.18 lower in PHACO compared to ECCE group. The estimated Social Security expenditure per patient undergoing surgery was US$ 6.57 and US$ 51.15 in PHACO and ECCE groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The average saving with PHACO compared to ECCE technique was US$ 61.50 for employers, patients, caregivers and Social Security.
Kara-Junior
Newton
N
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Parede
Tais Renata Ribeira
TR
Santhiago
Marcony Rodrigues
MR
Santiago
Marcony Rodrigues
MR
Espindola
Rodrigo França
RF
Mazurek
Maysa Godoy Gomes
MG
Carvalho
Regina de Souza
Rde S
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D017049:Employer Health Costs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000191:economics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors