Objectives: We investigated the extent of OOP spending individuals diagnosed with chronic NCDs among household members in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used among households in Riyadh Province from the beginning of January 2021 to the end of June 2021. Face‑to‑face interviews using a pretested patient interview questionnaire were conducted with households' heads. The individuals were asked to report the OOP spending incurred in the previous three-month period when receiving health services. A generalized linear regression model (GLM) using Box-Cox transformation was used to determine the effects of predisposing, enabling, and need factors on the level of OOP spending.

Results: A total of 39.6 percent of the families investigated had a chronic NCD of interest in at least one of their members. Median OOPHEs were highest for individuals with diabetes. On average, the median total OOP spending was SAR932 (interquartile range [IQR], SAR481 - SAR1,086) for individuals with diabetes, SAR606 (IQR, SAR400 - SAR805) for hypertension, and SAR402 (IQR, SAR231- SAR543) for hypothyroidism.

Conclusions: The burden of OOP spending on households with chronic NCDs remains heavy. The study identifies useful information for the decision-making process to reduce the risk of incurring OOP spending among households with NCDs.