Cost of neurocysticercosis patients treated in two referral hospitals in Mexico City, Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate annual costs related to the diagnosis, treatment and productivity losses among patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) receiving treatment at two referral hospitals, the Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia (INNN) and the Hospital de Especialidades of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (HE-IMSS), in Mexico City from July 2007 to August 2008.


METHODS
Information on presenting clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests, hospitalisations, surgical procedures and other treatments received by NCC outpatients was collected from medical charts, and supplemented by an individual questionnaire regarding productivity losses and out-of-pocket expenses related to NCC.


RESULTS
The annual average per-patient direct costs were US$ 503 (95% CI: 414-592) and US$ 438 (95% CI: 322-571) for patients without a history of hospitalisation and/or surgery seen at the INNN and the HE-IMSS, respectively. These costs increased to US$ 2506 (95% CI: 1797-3215) and US$ 2170 (95% CI: 1303-3037), respectively, for patients with a history of hospitalisation and/or surgery. The average annual per-patient indirect costs were US$ 246 (95% CI: 165-324) and US$ 114 (95% CI: 51-178), respectively, using minimum salary wages for individuals not officially employed.


CONCLUSIONS
The total annual cost for patients who had and had not been hospitalised and/or undergone a surgical procedure for the diagnosis or treatment of NCC corresponded to 212% and 41% of an annual minimum wage salary, respectively. The disease tends to affect rural socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and creates health disparities and significant economic losses in Mexico.
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Rachana
R
Bhattarai
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Hélène
H
Carabin
Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México DF, Mexico.
Jefferson V
JV
Proaño
Clinical Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, México DF, Mexico.
Jose
J
Flores-Rivera
Clinical Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, México DF, Mexico.
Teresa
T
Corona
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF, Mexico.
Ana
A
Flisser
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Christine M
CM
Budke
D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics*
Coste; Mexico; Mexique; Méjico; Neurocisticercosis; cost; coût; neurocysticercose; neurocysticercosis