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Resource Utilization and Direct Medical Costs of Chronic Hepatitis C in Thailand: A Heavy but Manageable Economic

Satawat Thongsawat1, Teerha Piratvisuth2, Chutima Pramoolsinsap3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastronenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chiangmai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Value in Health Regional Issues
|April 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a significant financial burden in Thailand. Medication costs represent the largest expenditure for managing CHC across most disease stages.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Health Economics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) poses a substantial public health challenge globally and in Thailand.
  • Understanding the economic impact of CHC is crucial for resource allocation and healthcare policy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the management costs of CHC and associated conditions from a payer's perspective in Thailand.
  • To analyze cost variations across different CHC health states.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of medical records from 542 CHC patients across five Thai tertiary hospitals.
  • Categorization of patients into five health states: noncirrhotic CHC, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation.
  • Estimation of costs based on resource utilization and Thai government reference prices over a 12-month follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Average annual costs per patient ranged from 170,000 to 600,000 baht, varying by health state.
  • Medication costs constituted the largest expense in most cohorts, except for liver transplantation in the first year.
  • Antiviral medication costs were a major component for noncirrhotic and compensated cirrhotic CHC.

Conclusions:

  • CHC represents a significant economic burden in Thailand.
  • Medication expenditure is a primary driver of CHC management costs across various disease severities.
Abstract

Keywords:
direct medical costeconomic burdenhepatitis C virusresource utilization

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