Annual Direct Medical Costs with Beta-Thalassemia in the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (SUS)
Author(s)
Luciana Bello, BSc1, Vicky Nogueira Pileggi, PhD1, Nathalia Volpi, PhD1, Renato M. Picoli, PhD2;
1Oracle, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Oracle, Research Consulting Senior Manager, São Paulo, Brazil
1Oracle, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Oracle, Research Consulting Senior Manager, São Paulo, Brazil
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the annual cost of treatment and complications of beta-thalassemia in the perspective of public health system in Brazil.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cost analysis of ambulatorial and hospital systems (SIA and SIH) available from public data (DATASUS) in Brazil from 2022 to October 2024 with the ICD of D56.1. The years of 2020/2021 were excluded due to the COVID19 pandemic. The population comprised all beta-thalassemia data available in both systems. The non-probabilistic convenience sample was used to establish the total mean direct cost.
RESULTS: The mean cost between 2022-2024 in SIA was R$26.12 and in SIH was R$1,048.47. The cost for SIH was higher than expected in 2023 with the mean cost of R$ 1,878.74. The SIH mean cost for 2022 was R$765.86 and in 2024 was R$500.81. In 2023, there was a patient logged in the state of São Paulo that required extra care because he had other ICD, including epilepsy and transplant, which might explain the high cost with the patient during this year. Without this specific patient, the mean cost in 2023 would be R$ 466.68, a similar value found in 2022 and 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: The costs with beta-thalassemia in the public health system in Brazil is relatively low, as this is a rare disease with low prevalence in the country. In SIA there is some control and predictability of costs over the three years, making it possible to plan future resource allocations. In the case of the SIH, a patient requiring higher-complexity care highlights the importance of not setting an overly restrictive budget. The cost differences between the systems for treatment patients with this disease suggest there is space for new treatment and management in the country to possibly make costs more efficiently handled.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cost analysis of ambulatorial and hospital systems (SIA and SIH) available from public data (DATASUS) in Brazil from 2022 to October 2024 with the ICD of D56.1. The years of 2020/2021 were excluded due to the COVID19 pandemic. The population comprised all beta-thalassemia data available in both systems. The non-probabilistic convenience sample was used to establish the total mean direct cost.
RESULTS: The mean cost between 2022-2024 in SIA was R$26.12 and in SIH was R$1,048.47. The cost for SIH was higher than expected in 2023 with the mean cost of R$ 1,878.74. The SIH mean cost for 2022 was R$765.86 and in 2024 was R$500.81. In 2023, there was a patient logged in the state of São Paulo that required extra care because he had other ICD, including epilepsy and transplant, which might explain the high cost with the patient during this year. Without this specific patient, the mean cost in 2023 would be R$ 466.68, a similar value found in 2022 and 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: The costs with beta-thalassemia in the public health system in Brazil is relatively low, as this is a rare disease with low prevalence in the country. In SIA there is some control and predictability of costs over the three years, making it possible to plan future resource allocations. In the case of the SIH, a patient requiring higher-complexity care highlights the importance of not setting an overly restrictive budget. The cost differences between the systems for treatment patients with this disease suggest there is space for new treatment and management in the country to possibly make costs more efficiently handled.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HTA79
Topic
Health Technology Assessment
Disease
SDC: Rare & Orphan Diseases