COVID-19 Disease and Economic Burden to Healthcare Systems in Adults in Six Latin American Countries Before Nationwide Vaccination Program: Ministry of Health Database Assessment and Literature Review

Natalia Espinola (), Cecilia I. Loudet, Rosario Luxardo, Carolina Moreno, Moe H. Kyaw, Julia Spinardi, Carlos Fernando Mendoza, Carolina M. Carballo, Ana Carolina Dantas, Maria Gabriela Abalos, Jamile Ballivian, Emiliano Navarro and Ariel Bardach
Additional contact information
Natalia Espinola: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina
Cecilia I. Loudet: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina
Rosario Luxardo: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina
Carolina Moreno: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina
Moe H. Kyaw: Vaccine, Medical, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY 10001, USA
Julia Spinardi: Vaccine, Medical, Emerging Markets, Pfizer Inc., Itapevi 06696-000, Brazil
Carlos Fernando Mendoza: Vaccine HTA, Value and Evidence, Pfizer Inc., Mexico City 05120, Mexico
Carolina M. Carballo: Vaccines, Medical, Pfizer Inc., Buenos Aires City C1437, Argentina
Ana Carolina Dantas: Vaccines, Medical, Pfizer Inc., Buenos Aires City C1437, Argentina
Maria Gabriela Abalos: Vaccine HTA, Value and Evidence, Pfizer Inc., Mexico City 05120, Mexico
Jamile Ballivian: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina
Emiliano Navarro: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina
Ariel Bardach: Department of Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires City C1414, Argentina

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide, yet reliable data on COVID-19 morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in Latin America remain limited. This study explored the disease and economic burden of COVID-19 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru during the pre-vaccination period. Using national databases and a systematic review of the literature, we analyzed data on adults aged 18 and older, reporting cases, death rates, years of life lost, excess mortality, and direct medical costs. Before vaccination programs began, the average COVID-19 incidence rate was 6741 per 100,000 adults. Of these, 91% were mild cases, 7% moderate/severe, and 2% critical. Among 2,201,816 hospitalizations, 27.8% required intensive care, and 17.5% required mechanical ventilation. Excess mortality ranged from 76 to 557 per 100,000, and years of life lost spanned 241,089 to 3,312,346. Direct medical costs ranged from USD 258 million to USD 10,437 million, representing 2–5% of national health expenditures. The findings highlight significant variability across countries and provide crucial insights to help policymakers to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively to improve national strategies around surveillance, preventive and treatment strategies to control the spread of COVID-19 disease in the future.

Keywords: adults; COVID-19; disease burden; economic burden; Latin American (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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