HCRU AND DIRECT MEDICAL COSTS IN COPD GOLD 2 - 3 PATIENTS: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CLINICAL EXPERTS IN MEXICO, ARGENTINA AND COLOMBIA
Author(s)
Eliana Vasquez, MSc. Health Economics1, Luis Esteban Orozco Ramirez, MSc. Economics1, Zoraida Pozo, Bsc. Health Administration1, Oscar Cerezo Camacho, MSc2, Julieta Larrosa Calderón, MSc. Biomedicine2, Sergio Londono, MSc. Public Health3.
1IQVIA, Bogota, Colombia, 2Sanofi, Mexico City, Mexico, 3Sanofi, Bogota, Colombia.
1IQVIA, Bogota, Colombia, 2Sanofi, Mexico City, Mexico, 3Sanofi, Bogota, Colombia.
OBJECTIVES: Estimate the healthcare resource utilization and direct medical costs (per patient) related to the management of adult patients with GOLD 2 and 3 COPD, from public healthcare perspective in Mexico, Argentina and Colombia.
METHODS: A standardized questionnaire was administered to clinical experts (pulmonologist) in Mexico and Argentina to estimate the Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU), including diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and hospitalization for COPD patients. A base-case scenario identified resource needs for general management and exacerbations. Healthcare costs were estimated using a bottom-up micro costing approach assigning unit costs to each resource based on the latest Tariff and other official public records from each country. Costs in local currencies were converted to 2026 USD.
RESULTS: In the diagnosis of COPD GOLD 2 and 3, over 80% of patients had >1 pulmonology consultation in Argentina and Mexico, compared with 68% and 86%, respectively, in Colombia. Regarding treatment, GOLD 2 patients primarily received monotherapy (28%) and dual therapy (47%), whereas dual (37%) and triple therapy (40%) predominated in GOLD 3. Annual outpatient visits were highest in Mexico (20 consultations) followed by Argentina (16) and Colombia (13). Hospitalizations rates for exacerbations were highest in Colombia, where all GOLD 2 and 3 cases required hospitalization, versus 43-75% in Argentina and 27-58% in Mexico. GOLD 3 patients experienced more exacerbations than GOLD 2 patients (mean rates: 32.7% vs. 19.3%). Diagnostic costs were highest in Argentina and follow-up costs in Mexico, while costs in Colombia remained comparatively lower. Costs increased with disease severity, and exacerbations, particularly severe events requiring hospitalization, increased in per-patient costs in all countries.
CONCLUSIONS: COPD GOLD 2-3 is associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization across all countries, with differences between them. HCRU and associated costs increased with severity, therefore, optimized management and exacerbation prevention are key to reducing healthcare utilization and overall costs.
METHODS: A standardized questionnaire was administered to clinical experts (pulmonologist) in Mexico and Argentina to estimate the Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU), including diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and hospitalization for COPD patients. A base-case scenario identified resource needs for general management and exacerbations. Healthcare costs were estimated using a bottom-up micro costing approach assigning unit costs to each resource based on the latest Tariff and other official public records from each country. Costs in local currencies were converted to 2026 USD.
RESULTS: In the diagnosis of COPD GOLD 2 and 3, over 80% of patients had >1 pulmonology consultation in Argentina and Mexico, compared with 68% and 86%, respectively, in Colombia. Regarding treatment, GOLD 2 patients primarily received monotherapy (28%) and dual therapy (47%), whereas dual (37%) and triple therapy (40%) predominated in GOLD 3. Annual outpatient visits were highest in Mexico (20 consultations) followed by Argentina (16) and Colombia (13). Hospitalizations rates for exacerbations were highest in Colombia, where all GOLD 2 and 3 cases required hospitalization, versus 43-75% in Argentina and 27-58% in Mexico. GOLD 3 patients experienced more exacerbations than GOLD 2 patients (mean rates: 32.7% vs. 19.3%). Diagnostic costs were highest in Argentina and follow-up costs in Mexico, while costs in Colombia remained comparatively lower. Costs increased with disease severity, and exacerbations, particularly severe events requiring hospitalization, increased in per-patient costs in all countries.
CONCLUSIONS: COPD GOLD 2-3 is associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization across all countries, with differences between them. HCRU and associated costs increased with severity, therefore, optimized management and exacerbation prevention are key to reducing healthcare utilization and overall costs.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE731
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)