Patients’ Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Tuberculosis Treatment in DOTS and Non-DOTS Facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Patients’ Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Tuberculosis Treatment in DOTS and Non-DOTS Facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Data
2010
Autores
Steffen, Ricardo
Menzies, Dick
Oxlade, Olivia
Pinto, Marcia
Castro, Analia Zuleika de
Monteiro, Paula
Trajman, Anete
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS ONE
Resumo
Background: Costs of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment may represent a significant burden for the poor and for the
health system in resource-poor countries.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze patients’ costs of tuberculosis care and to estimate the incremental cost-
effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the directly observed treatment (DOT) strategy per completed treatment in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
Methods: We interviewed 218 adult patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Information on direct
(out-of-pocket expenses) and indirect (hours lost) costs, loss in income and costs with extra help were gathered through a
questionnaire. Healthcare system additional costs due to supervision of pill-intake were calculated considering staff salaries.
Effectiveness was measured by treatment completion rate. The ICER of DOT compared to self-administered therapy (SAT)
was calculated.
Principal Findings: DOT increased costs during the treatment phase, while SAT increased costs in the pre-diagnostic phase,
for both the patient and the health system. Treatment completion rates were 71% in SAT facilities and 79% in DOT facilities.
Costs per completed treatment were US$ 194 for patients and U$ 189 for the health system in SAT facilities, compared to
US$ 336 and US$ 726 in DOT facilities. The ICER was US$ 6,616 per completed DOT treatment compared to SAT.
Conclusions: Costs incurred by TB patients are high in Rio de Janeiro, especially for those under DOT. The DOT strategy
doubles patients’ costs and increases by fourfold the health system costs per completed treatment. The additional costs for
DOT may be one of the contributing factors to the completion rates below the targeted 85% recommended by WHO.
Description
Palavras-chave
Adult, Antitubercular Agents / economics, Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*, Brazil, Community Health Services / economics, Community Health Services / methods*, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Directly Observed Therapy / economics, Directly Observed Therapy / methods*, Female, Health Care Costs, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
Citação
Steffen R, Menzies D, Oxlade O, Pinto M, de Castro AZ, Monteiro P, Trajman A. Patients' costs and cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment in DOTS and non-DOTS facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PLoS One. 2010 Nov 17;5(11):e14014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014014.