Direct Cost of Prenatal Control in a Cohort of Pregnant Women in Colombia

Speaker(s)

Carrasquilla-Sotomayor M1, Alvis Zakzuk NJ2, Salcedo Mejía F1, Jerez Arias M3, Paz Wilches J4, Fernandez Mercado JC5, Alvis Zakzuk N1, Moyano L1
1ALZAK Foundation, Cartagena, Colombia, 2Universidad de la Costa, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 3Fundación SERSOCIAL IPS, Cartagena, Colombia, 4Mutual SER EPS, Cartagena, Colombia, 5MUTUALSER EPS - University of Cartagena - Clínica Crecer, Cali, VAC, Colombia

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES:

To estimate direct medical costs (DMC) of pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications and comorbidities among women of childbearing age (15-44 years).

METHODS: Records of women between 2018-2021 were analyzed, from eight weeks of pregnancy until the end of the pregnancy. Patients were stratified by pregnancy risk level, and pre-exiting Body Mass index (BMI). Mean pregnancy health care costs adjusted by risk level, BMI, pre-existing health conditions and maternal age were estimated. Standard deviation (SD), median, interquartile range (IQR) were calculated.

All costs were adjusted for inflation and reported in 2021 US dollars with an exchange rate of 3,981.16 Colombian pesos.

RESULTS:

4003 pregnancies of 3974 women with one or more pregnancies were analyzed. The mean age and BMI were 26.62 years (SD 6.32) and 25.8 (SD 5.2). The 43.87% of pregnant were in high risk, 19.5% had obesity and 33.0% overweight at the onset of pregnancy.The average annual DMC of pregnancy was US$436.2 (SD$756.6), median US$193.8 (IQR:$107.0-$375.9). Costs in high risk pregnancy were greater (mean US$515.9 [SD $825.0] and median US$205.1 [IQR: $112.0-$512.8]) than low risk pregnancy with average cost US$373.9 (SD $692.2) and median of US$188.9 (IQR: $104.2-$298.2). Pre-existing obesity and overweight were also a cost driver increaser with an average cost US$528.3 (SD $912.2) and US$419.5 (SD $704.5) respectively. Otherwise, 37.65% of pregnant women had a cesarean section, average cost $350.73 (SD $629.7), 36.67% had no complications with a mean cost US$466.7 (SD$681.2) and 9.64% had an abortion at a cost of US$239.3 (SD $291.7). Furthermore, this reported costs were increasing between 2018 and 2021 from US$287.2 to US$541.54.

CONCLUSIONS: Policies to improve the prevention of pregnancy-related complications and reduce unintended pregnancies are essential to lower the impact of pregnancy on the overall economic burden of the Colombian health system.

Code

EE111

Topic

Economic Evaluation, Health Policy & Regulatory

Topic Subcategory

Insurance Systems & National Health Care, Public Spending & National Health Expenditures

Disease

Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory)