Economic Burden of Heart Failure in Asian Countries with Different Healthcare Systems
- Author:
Teerapat YINGCHONCHAROEN
1
;
Tao-Cheng WU
;
Dong-Ju CHOI
;
Tiong Kiam ONG
;
Houng Bang LIEW
;
Myeong-Chan CHO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Research
- From:Korean Circulation Journal 2021;51(8):681-693
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background and Objectives:Heart failure (HF) poses substantial economic burden, primarily driven by high hospitalization and mortality rates. This study aimed to understand the economic burden of HF in 4 Asian countries under varying healthcare systems.
Methods:This was a non-interventional, retrospective study conducted in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia through medical chart review. Eligible patients included those who had either ≥1 hospitalization or ≥2 outpatient visits from January 1st to December 31st, 2014, and at least one year of follow-up. Resource use and direct healthcare costs (adjusted to 2015 USD) of HF were assessed. HF costs for subgroups stratified by age and sex were assessed.
Results:A total of 568 patients were recruited from South Korea (n=200), Taiwan (n=200), Thailand (n=100) and Malaysia (n=68). The proportion of patients hospitalized ranged from 20.0% to 93.5% (South Korea 20.0%, Thailand 49.0%, Malaysia 70.6%, and Taiwan 93.5%).The overall annual HF cost per patient was $2,357, $4,513, $3,513 and $1,443 in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia, respectively; hospitalized HF care costs were $10,714, $4,790, $7,181 and $1,776, respectively. The length of stay was more than 12.2 days except in Malaysia. No specific trend was observed in subgroup analysis.
Conclusions:In Asia, HF poses significant economic burden and hospitalization has emerged as the major cost driver among healthcare costs. A streamlined treatment strategy reducing hospitalization rate can minimize the economic burden.
