Economic burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a multicenter study across Vietnamese regions

Abstract

© 2018 The Union. S E T T I N G: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a major worldwide health problem. Various studies have been conducted on the cost of MDR-TB treatment; however, this has remained largely unexplored in Viet Nam. O B J E C T I V E: To estimate the total cost of MDR-TB treatment at several health care facilities in Viet Nam. D E S I G N: A prospective, prevalence-based study was conducted at three selected centers from March to June 2016 in 204 patients, 102 of whom were treated for 9 months and 102 for 20 months. Direct medical costs were calculated using electronic hospital databases, while a questionnaire was used to interview participants for evaluating direct non-medical and indirect costs. Total costs were estimated from a societal perspective in 2017 USD. R E S U L T S: Patients were mostly males aged 25–44 years. The average length of hospitalization in the 9-month treatment group was 168 6 127 days; in the 20-month group, it was 671 6 119 days. The average treatment cost for MDR-TB was respectively US$1480.34 6 211.61 and US$2695.58 6 294.98 for the 9- and 20-month treatment groups. Direct medical costs generally accounted for the highest proportion of the total costs, while the cost of pharmaceuticals and materials comprised the highest direct cost. C O N C L U S I O N: There was a significant difference in total costs among the three hospitals in the 9- and 20-month treatment groups.