HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND DIRECT MEDICAL COSTS OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION GROUPS 1 AND 4 IN COLOMBIA: A REAL-WORLD DATA PERSPECTIVE
Author(s)
Claudia A. López-Cabra, MD, MSc1, Jhon Edwar Bolaños, MD, MSc2, Juan Pablo Gallo, Eng, MSc(c)2, Caroll Delgado, MD, MSc1, Alejandro Londoño, MD, Pulmonologist2.
1Bayer, Bogota, Colombia, 2SURA, Medellin, Colombia.
1Bayer, Bogota, Colombia, 2SURA, Medellin, Colombia.
OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare, progressive disease associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and economic burden. However, real-world evidence on costs and resource use in Latin America remains limited. This study aimed to characterize HCRU and estimate direct medical costs among patients with PH groups 1 and 4
METHODS: A retrospective HCRU analysis was conducted using administrative claims databases and invoices from a Colombian health insurer between 2021 and 2025. Adult patients with confirmed PH group 1 or group 4 using ICD-10 codes, were included. HCRU was assessed across outpatient consultations, diagnostic and monitoring procedures, pharmacological treatments, hospitalizations, and complications. Direct medical costs were estimated from the payer perspective and reported in 2025 US dollars (USD)
RESULTS: A total of 490 patients were included, of whom 151 (30.8%) had group 1 PH and 339 (69.2%) had group 4 PH. Median age at diagnosis was 61 years (IQR 42-72), 74.1% were female, and median follow-up was 52.1 months (IQR 28.4-91.9). Over the entire follow-up period, patients utilized a mean of 26.2 general practitioner visits, 13.7 specialist consultations, and 3.2 emergency department visits per patient. Hospitalizations unrelated to and due to right heart failure accounted for a mean of 5.0 and 3.2 inpatient days per patient, respectively. Mean cumulative direct medical cost per patient was USD 82,863. Costs increased progressively over time, with the highest cumulative expenditure observed among high-risk patients across both etiological groups. Mean cumulative costs were higher in group 1 than in group 4 PH (USD 128,277 vs. USD 62,634)
CONCLUSIONS: PH imposes a substantial economic burden on the Colombian healthcare system. Direct medical costs increased progressively over time, with the highest cumulative expenditures observed among high-risk patients
METHODS: A retrospective HCRU analysis was conducted using administrative claims databases and invoices from a Colombian health insurer between 2021 and 2025. Adult patients with confirmed PH group 1 or group 4 using ICD-10 codes, were included. HCRU was assessed across outpatient consultations, diagnostic and monitoring procedures, pharmacological treatments, hospitalizations, and complications. Direct medical costs were estimated from the payer perspective and reported in 2025 US dollars (USD)
RESULTS: A total of 490 patients were included, of whom 151 (30.8%) had group 1 PH and 339 (69.2%) had group 4 PH. Median age at diagnosis was 61 years (IQR 42-72), 74.1% were female, and median follow-up was 52.1 months (IQR 28.4-91.9). Over the entire follow-up period, patients utilized a mean of 26.2 general practitioner visits, 13.7 specialist consultations, and 3.2 emergency department visits per patient. Hospitalizations unrelated to and due to right heart failure accounted for a mean of 5.0 and 3.2 inpatient days per patient, respectively. Mean cumulative direct medical cost per patient was USD 82,863. Costs increased progressively over time, with the highest cumulative expenditure observed among high-risk patients across both etiological groups. Mean cumulative costs were higher in group 1 than in group 4 PH (USD 128,277 vs. USD 62,634)
CONCLUSIONS: PH imposes a substantial economic burden on the Colombian healthcare system. Direct medical costs increased progressively over time, with the highest cumulative expenditures observed among high-risk patients
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE114
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Rare & Orphan Diseases, Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)