title: Estimating the cost of treating patients with liver cirrhosis at the Mexican Social Security Institute.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the annual cost of treating patients with cirrhosis at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS per its abbreviation in Spanish).
  
  
  METHODS
  The annual cost of treating three stages of cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A, Child-Pugh B and Child-Pugh C) was estimated using micro-costing techniques and medical experts. These results were compared and contrasted with prices reported by IMSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual cost of treatment, in USA dollars, by Child-Pugh stage was: a) micro-costing results: $1110.17 stage A, $549.55 stage B and $348.16 stage C; b) opinion of medical experts: $1 633.64, $6564.04 and $19660.35, respectively; and c) IMSS costs: $4269.00, $16949.63 and $30249.25, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cost of treating patients with cirrhosis is considerable, and costs increase as the disease worsens. Cost estimates vary depending on the source of information, and the methodology used. There are discrepancies between the procedures reported in medical records and treatment recommendations by IMSS liver experts.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: María Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.forename: Yvonne N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Belkis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aracena
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Granados-García
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmerón
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bastani
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000191:economics*; D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics*