title: [Spending with unnecessary complementary tests for hypertension and diabetes in health services].
abstract: The aims of this study were to analyze unnecessary laboratory exams for patients with hypertension and diabetes and to check the expenditures involved.This is an exploratory-descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach.We used data from medical records of 293 patients registered in primary units - the Family Health Center (NSF3); secondary: School Health Center (CSE); and tertiary: Hospital das Clinicas (HC) from 2006 to 2009 in a city in Southeastern Brazil. We identified a total of 9,522 laboratory tests, of which 5.97% were unnecessary. Of these, about 58% were requested by NSF3 and 42% by CSE. Results suggest there is a lack of integration among different levels of health care, which result in misallocation of resources and unnecessary spending. Descriptors: Health expenditures. Hypertension. Diabetes mellitus. Family health. Health services.
authors.forename: Thiago Roberto Castellane
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: Marli de Carvalho
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Jericó
authors.forename: Liliana Cristina
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Valéria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castilhod
authors.forename: Antonio Fernandes Costa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000191:economics*