OBJECTIVES

Bipolar disorder (BD) and Depression (DP) may result in a considerable economic burden to the society and health care systems. Cost-of-illness (COI) studies are a useful evidence tool to inform resource allocation processes. This study aims to give a general overview of COI studies for BD and DP in Latin America and to identify methodological issues that might potentially influence results

METHODS

A search was performed to identify COI studies of BD and DP reporting both direct and indirect costs from 2005 to 2018 in Latin America. The following electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO and LILACS. The primary outcome of this review was the annual cost per BD patient. A narrative assessment of key methodological issues was also included. Based on these findings, recommendations for good practice were drafted.

RESULTS

Nine studies conducted in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil were included in this review. None of the included studies was conducted at a national level. Because of the widespread methodological heterogeneity among included studies, no attempt has been made to pool results of different studies. Hospital length of stay and medications were reported to be the main cost drivers in Colombia. Costs resulting of depression-associated presenteeism were reported in Brazil and Mexico. Potential areas for methodological improvement were identified; description of the disease and population, reporting the cost perspectives and cost components.

CONCLUSIONS

BD and DP are considered to be an important source of economic burden in Latin America. Although, this review showed that COI studies conducted for BD and DP in Latin America are lacking. In addition, considerable methodological limitations were found and the comparability of findings is not possible.