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Direct medical care costs associated with patients diagnosed with chronic HCV

Sara Ashtari1, Mohsen Vahedi, Mohammad Amin Pourhoseingholi

  • 1Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran.

Hepatitis Monthly
|August 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The direct medical costs for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in Iran were substantial, with peg-interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-RBV) being significantly more expensive than conventional interferon plus ribavirin (INF-RBV). These costs, driven by medication, highlight the economic burden of HCV infection.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Health Economics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection poses a significant global health challenge with considerable socio-economic consequences.
  • The economic burden of HCV is substantial due to high rates of morbidity and mortality from end-stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the direct medical care costs associated with chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study analyzed 365 HCV treatment courses from 284 patients referred to Tehran HCV clinic between 2005 and 2010.
  • Direct medical care costs were calculated in Purchasing Power Parity Dollar (PPP$) for each treatment course.
  • Patients included in the study had a confirmed diagnosis of HCV.

Main Results:

  • Average direct medical costs were 4,403 PPP$ for conventional interferon plus ribavirin (INF-RBV) and 20,010 PPP$ for peg-interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-RBV).
  • Costs increased to achieve Sustained Viral Response (SVR), reaching 10,072 PPP$ for INF-RBV and 34,035 PPP$ for PEG-RBV.
  • The higher cost of PEG-RBV is primarily attributed to the elevated price of peg-interferon, indicating medication costs are the dominant factor.

Conclusions:

  • Total direct medical costs for HCV patients in Iran were estimated at over 12 billion PPP$ for INF-RBV treatment and 55 billion PPP$ for PEG-RBV treatment.
  • These findings underscore the significant financial impact of HCV treatment regimens in the region.
Abstract

Keywords:
Health Care CostsHepatitis C, ChronicPeginterferon Alfa-2a

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