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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 6/2019

01-07-2019 | Care | Original article

Direct healthcare costs of spinal disorders in Brazil

Authors: Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro, Everton Nunes da Silva, Maurits van Tulder

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 6/2019

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Direct healthcare costs of spinal disorders in Brazil
Authors
Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro
Everton Nunes da Silva
Maurits van Tulder
Publication date
01-07-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01211-6

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