[Cost analysis of treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis in a city in southern Brazil].
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis involves the use of medicines, non-pharmaceutical therapies, medical appointments, and complimentary tests, among other procedures. Based on sources of payment, this article presents the direct medical costs related to treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The cost analysis included 103 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis treated at the Specialized Division of Pharmaceutical Care in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Total annual direct cost was R$ 2,045,596.55 (approximately one million US dollars), or R$ 19,860.16 per patient/year (slightly less than ten thousand US dollars). Total cost breakdown was as follows: 90.8% for medicines, 2.5% for hospitalizations, 2.2% for complimentary tests, 2.1% for medical appointments, and 2.4% for all other costs. The public sector accounted for 73.6% of the total direct medical costs and 79.3% of the cost of medicines. The cost analysis provided a profile of how a group of individuals with a chronic non-communicable disease that requires resources circulates in the public-private mix that characterizes the Brazilian health system.
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil. fabiola_bagatini@yahoo.com.br
Fabíola Bagatini
FB
Buendgens
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Brasil.
Carine Raquel
CR
Blatt
Hospital Universitário Professor Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil.
Antônio Carlos Estima
AC
Marasciulo
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil.
Silvana Nair
SN
Leite
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil.
Mareni Rocha
MR
Farias
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index