Direct healthcare costs of spinal disorders in Brazil

Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro (), Everton Nunes Silva and Maurits van Tulder
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Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Everton Nunes Silva: Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
Maurits van Tulder: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

International Journal of Public Health, 2019, vol. 64, issue 6, No 15, 965-974

Abstract: Abstract Objectives To estimate the direct healthcare costs of spinal disorders in Brazil over 2016. Methods This is a prevalence-based cost-of-illness study with a top-down approach from the perspective of the public healthcare system. All international Classification of Diseases codes related to spinal disorders were included. The following costs were obtained: (1) hospitalization; medical professional service costs; intensive care unit costs; companion daily stay; (2) outpatient (services/procedures). Data were analyzed descriptively and costs presented in US$. Results The healthcare system spent US$ 71.4 million, and inpatient care represented 58%. The number of inpatient days was 250,426, and there were 36,654 hospital admissions (dorsalgia and disk disorders representing 70% of the costs). More than 114,000 magnetic resonance scans and 107,000 computerized tomography scans were adopted. Men had more inpatient days (138,215) than women (112,211). Overall, the inpatient/outpatient cost ratio was twice as high for men. Conclusions We demonstrated that the direct costs of spinal disorders in Brazil in 2016 were considerable. We also found a substantial amount of financial resources spent on diagnostic imaging. This is relevant as the routine use of diagnostic imaging for back pain is discouraged in international guidelines.

Keywords: Cost of illness; Back pain; Costs and cost analysis; Hospital costs; Ambulatory care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-019-01211-6

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