The aim of this study was to estimate the healthcare costs of osteoarthritis in Brazil over 2018.
This is a cost-of-illness study using a top-down approach conducted from the Brazilian public healthcare system perspective using data over 2018. Data from two Brazilian healthcare databases were used to estimate outpatient and inpatient care costs (Outpatient Information System and Hospital Information System, respectively). Outpatient healthcare services were categorized as diagnostic procedures, therapeutic interventions, minor surgical procedures, assistive devices, and supplementary services; and inpatient healthcare services were categorized as personnel services, in-hospital service, intensive care unit service, and companion stay. Data were extracted considering the following International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes: M15 (polyosteoarthritis), M16 (hip osteoarthritis), M17 (knee osteoarthritis), M18 (first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis), and M19 (other and unspecific osteoarthritis). No age restrictions were applied, and data of both sexes were included. Healthcare costs (the sum of inpatient and outpatient care costs) were presented descriptively. Outpatient and inpatient care costs were also reported separately. The most common procedures consumed for the outpatient care were reported.
Healthcare costs due to osteoarthritis were US$50.4 million in 2018. Inpatient care accounted for the biggest share of these costs, representing 70.4% of the healthcare costs (US$35.5 million). Overall, healthcare costs were higher for knee (42.2%) and hip osteoarthritis (38.5%) compared to the other types of osteoarthritis. The highest proportion of outpatient care costs were due to therapeutic interventions (88.1%), especially with physiotherapy sessions (US$11 million).
The Brazilian public healthcare system expended US$50.4 million with osteoarthritis in 2018. Hip and knee osteoarthritis accounted for the biggest share of these costs. Healthcare costs were higher for inpatient care compared to outpatient care. The most common procedure consumed for outpatient care was physiotherapy.
The evidence on the healthcare costs of osteoarthritis in an upper-middle-income country is important to inform decision-makers about the economic burden of this disease.
Osteoarthritis
Healthcare costs