OBJECTIVES: We conducted this study to estimate economic burden and find unmet needs in 4 Asian countries including Korea (KR), Taiwan (TW), Thailand (TH), and Malaysia (MY).

METHODS: It was a retrospective, cohort, medical chart review, and non-interventional study in 4 countries of 6 tertiary hospitals. With different Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (KR $27,811, TW $22,639, TH $5,921, MY $11,009), it aimed not to compare the results among countries, but to estimate and describe it respectively. Patients who met those criteria were included; 1) over 19 years old, 2) diagnosed with HF (ICD 9 or 10) codes and 3) ≥1 hospitalization or ≥2 outpatient visit. Index period was one year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 in 2014). We collected variables including demographics, healthcare cost and resumption including drugs.

RESULTS: A total of 568 patients were included (KR 200, TW 200, TH 100, MY 68). We particularly focused on patients with hospitalization experience and there were KR 40, TW 187, TH 49, and MY 48 patients, respectively. In Korea, hospitalization cost per event was $7,419 and $10,714 in annual cost per patient. In Taiwan, cost for hospitalization was $3,019 and $4,790 of annual cost per patient. In Thailand, cost for hospitalization was $5,285 and annual cost per patient was $7,181. In Malaysia, cost for hospitalization was $744 with $1,776 of annual cost. The length of stay per hospitalization was KR 12.2 days, TW 15.7 days, TH 14.2 days, and MY 5.5 days, respectively. Drug consumption varied in countries. Other than diuretics, the most frequently prescribed agent in 4 countries was nitrate in KR, anticoagulant in TW, and beta-blockers in both TH and MY.

CONCLUSIONS: The burden of HF is considerable and especially hospitalization is significant factor contributing to cost of disease. Consequently, effort to raise awareness of HF is required to reduce it.