OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the annual direct medical costs of stroke in the Caribbean region of Colombia, 2018-2021.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients with a stroke event was conducted. We described the direct medical costs and use of health resources between 2018-2021. The analyzed patients were affiliated to a health insurer in Colombia (Mutual SER EPS) with more than 2.5 million affiliates in the Caribbean region. Mean and median cost were expressed as annual averages with their 95% confidence intervals. An american dollars average rate of 3,981.16 COP for 12/31/2021 was used to express the cost.

RESULTS: 357 patients were analyzed, 52.4% female and 58.8% were from Bolivar and 24.4% were from Sucre; the mean age was 68.9(SD16.5) and 97.8% are poor (belong to subsidize health regime). 60.2% use drugs with a mean cost of $150.4 (95%CI $105.5-$195.2) and 41.7% could access to specialized consultation (mean cost of $61.9 95%CI $44.1-$79.6). Only 16 patients used ICU service, however, it represents 36.8% of the total cost of care (median cost $3,718.8 95%CI $3,359.0-$4,078.6); intermediate hospitalization represents 23.3% and the emergencies only represents the 0.1% of total care. 31.0% of patients received home care with mean cost of $809.2 95%IC $606.1-$1,012.4) and only 0.28% required a surgery

CONCLUSIONS: ICU and intermediate hospitalization represent high cost of care for patient with stroke in the caribbean region of Colombia. Home care represent almost the same cost of general hospitalization. It is recommended to continue working in prevention programs to reduce strokes and cost of care.