HCRU AND DIRECT MEDICAL COSTS IN COPD GOLD 2 - 3 PATIENTS: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CLINICAL EXPERTS IN MEXICO AND ARGENTINA
Author(s)
Luis Esteban Orozco Ramirez, MSc. Economics1, Eliana Vasquez, MSc. Health 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 and Argentina.
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, more than 80% of patients had >1 pulmonology consultation in Argentina and Mexico. Regarding treatment, GOLD 2 patients primarily received monotherapy (27%) and dual therapy (50%), whereas in GOLD 3, dual (40%) and triple therapy (38%) predominated. Annual outpatient medical attendance was higher in Mexico (20 consultations) than in Argentina (16). Hospitalizations rates were higher in Argentina 43-75% of GOLD 2-3 patients than in Mexico (27%-58%). GOLD 3 patients experienced more exacerbations (25% in Mexico and 30% in Argentina) than GOLD 2 patients (10% in Mexico - 25% in Argentina). Diagnostic costs were higher in Argentina (USD 2,736-2,742) compared with Mexico (USD 567-679). Follow-up (USD 1,067 vs 1,491 in GOLD 3 patients in Argentina and Mexico, respectively) and hospitalization costs increased with disease severity, as did exacerbation-related costs per patient.
CONCLUSIONS: COPD GOLD 2-3 is associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization in both Argentina and Mexico, with differences between countries. 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, more than 80% of patients had >1 pulmonology consultation in Argentina and Mexico. Regarding treatment, GOLD 2 patients primarily received monotherapy (27%) and dual therapy (50%), whereas in GOLD 3, dual (40%) and triple therapy (38%) predominated. Annual outpatient medical attendance was higher in Mexico (20 consultations) than in Argentina (16). Hospitalizations rates were higher in Argentina 43-75% of GOLD 2-3 patients than in Mexico (27%-58%). GOLD 3 patients experienced more exacerbations (25% in Mexico and 30% in Argentina) than GOLD 2 patients (10% in Mexico - 25% in Argentina). Diagnostic costs were higher in Argentina (USD 2,736-2,742) compared with Mexico (USD 567-679). Follow-up (USD 1,067 vs 1,491 in GOLD 3 patients in Argentina and Mexico, respectively) and hospitalization costs increased with disease severity, as did exacerbation-related costs per patient.
CONCLUSIONS: COPD GOLD 2-3 is associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization in both Argentina and Mexico, with differences between countries. 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)