title: Cost of management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in Brazzaville (Congo): preliminary findings.
abstract: The frequency of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly as a consequence of population aging and the high prevalence of hypertension. The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the cost of management of this disease in the cardiology department at University Hospital of Brazzaville. The study included 50 patients aged 67.3 ± 12.8 years (range: 34 to 88 years). Among them, 21 (42%) were unemployed, and 49 (98%) had no health insurance. Their average monthly salary was 152.8 ± 149 € (range: 0 to 686 €). The mean total cost of care was 442.4 ± 109.8 € (range: 146.6 to 646.2 €). The average monthly salary was higher than the average cost of drugs (P <0.0001), or of additional tests (P <0.0001), or of hospital hospitality (P <0.0001). But the overall cost of care was substantially higher than the patients' mean salary (p <0.0001). This study illustrates the increasing healthcare costs related to the growing burden of cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors: Service de cardiologie, CHU de Brazzaville, BP 13400 Brazzaville, Congo, Département de médecine, faculté des sciences de la santé, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: B F
authors: BF
authors: Ellenga Mbolla
authors: Service de cardiologie, CHU de Brazzaville, BP 13400 Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Matingou
authors: Service de cardiologie, CHU de Brazzaville, BP 13400 Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Ikama
authors: Service de cardiologie, CHU de Brazzaville, BP 13400 Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: S F
authors: SF
authors: Mongo-Ngamami
authors: Service de cardiologie, CHU de Brazzaville, BP 13400 Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Kouala Landa
authors: Département de médecine, faculté des sciences de la santé, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Gombet
authors: Service de cardiologie, CHU de Brazzaville, BP 13400 Brazzaville, Congo.
authors: S G
authors: SG
authors: Kimbally-Kaky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D003223:Congo; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Congo; Sub-Saharan Africa; financial cost; no valvular atrial fibrillation