Real-World Healthcare Resource Utilization and Related Costs Associated With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in the Brazilian Private Market

OBJECTIVES: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited cardiomyopathy, occurring in about 1 in 500 individuals. There are limited data evaluating all-cause and disease-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and cost of care. This study investigated the clinical and economic burden of disease.

METHODS: Retrospective database study using longitudinal medical and pharmacy claims data from January/2019—December/2023. Adults with HCM diagnoses (ICD-10 I42.1, or I42.2) and treated with pharmacotherapies and procedures (septal reduction therapy, valve repair, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and pacemaker implantation) were identified. Available data include demographics, comorbidities, HCRU, and costs (assessed from the payer’s perspective) were reported for the year and include inpatient/outpatient visits, surgery, emergency department, tests, and all coordination of benefits. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact and Student’s t tests for categorical/continuous measures were used. Statistical significance for p<0.05.

RESULTS: Of 60,012 beneficiaries, 123 patients (0.2%) had cardiomyopathy (68 ± 17 years; 56% female), 8.1% diagnosed with HCM (61 ± 23 years; 60% female). From them, the rate of procedures per year for visit a cardiologist, emergency room visit, tests, therapies, and hospitalization were 8.4, 2.9, 100.3, 35.4 and 0.62, respectively. The average length of hospitalization was 29 days. Annualized healthcare costs associated with the HCM were U$ 16,476 per patient, almost four times higher than those with other non-obstructive cardiomyopathies (U$ 4,741).

CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil little is known about HCRU, and costs associated with HCM symptomatic. Most patients with HCM had a delay of ≤ 2 years before receiving the definitive diagnosis. In our study of real-world, HCM was associated with substantial increases in HCRU and incremental costs of when compared with other non-obstructive cardiomyopathies. Further studies are warranted to understand the potential impact of specific therapies on HCRU and the economic burden of HCM to support health managers to use financial resources with better outcomes.