OBJECTIVES: Estimation of the economic burden of newly diagnosed pulmonary atrial hypertension (PAH) and economic impact of early initiated PAH-related treatment in Russia.

METHODS: Adult patients were included after PAH verification based on hemodynamic data of right heart catheterization (RHC). The data has been received via patients interviewing and medical documentation analysis at first week and every 3 months after enrollment. Some patients were included after several months after RHC. The retrospective design was used to collect information before enrollment. The total observational period lasted 1 year before diagnosis and during the following year.

RESULTS: Тhe study included 33 patients aged 43,67±14,90, 84,8% female, 81,8% with idiopathic PАH, most patients with II or III functional class (WHO). During follow-up period 2 patients died because of PAH complications, 1 patient died due to COVID-19 complications, with 1 patient connection was lost. The median total costs of PAH per patient/year were calculated as 234,570 RUB before and 1,501,175 Rub after PAH verification respectively: median direct costs – 110,661/902,456 RUB, median direct non-medical cost – 2,213/74,025 RUB, median indirect costs – 80,477/52,972 RUB before/after PAH verification respectively. Thereby after PAH verification there has been a significant increase in total costs due to an increase in the costs of PAH-related drugs (р<0,05). The significant decrease in total direct costs except PAH-related drugs costs and costs for hospitalization after diagnosis of PAH has been shown (р<0,05). There was no change in direct non-medical cost and indirect costs after PAH verification (р>0,05).

CONCLUSIONS: Еarlier diagnostic and better access for reimbursed PAH-specific therapy will help to increase the quality of healthcare and this will entail reasonable government spending on the treatment. Despite significant increase of total costs mostly due to PAH-related therapy, early treatment initiation will help to save quality of life for patients and avoid additional costs for hospitalizations.