An economic study of neuro-oncological patients in a large developing country: a cost analysis

Abstract

Background Neuro-oncological patients require specialized medical care. However, the data on the costs incurred for such specialized care in developing countries are currently lacking. These data are relevant for international cooperation.

Objective The present study aimed to estimate the direct cost of specialized care for an adult neuro-oncological patient with meningioma or glioma during hospitalization in the largest philanthropic hospital in Latin America.

Methods The present observational economic analysis describes the direct cost of care of neuro-oncological patients in Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil. Only adult patients with a common primary brain tumor were included.

Results Due to differences in the system records, the period analyzed for cost estimation was between December 2016 and December 2019. A group of patients with meningiomas and gliomas was analyzed. The estimated mean cost of neurosurgical hospitalization was US$4,166. The cost of the operating room and intensive care unit represented the largest proportion of the total cost. A total of 17.5% of patients had some type of infection, and 66.67% of these occurred in nonelective procedures. The mortality rate was 12.7% and 92.3% of all deaths occurred in emergency procedures.

Conclusions Emergency surgeries were associated with an increased rate of infections and mortality. The findings of the present study could be used by policymakers for resource allocation and to perform economic analyses to establish the value of neurosurgery in achieving global health goals.

Resumo

Antecedentes Pacientes neuro-oncológicos demandam tratamento médico especializado. Em países em desenvolvimento, há falta de dados sobre custos em neurocirurgia. Estes dados são relevantes para ajudar na cooperação internacional.

Objetivo O presente estudo objetiva estimar o custo direto de um paciente neuro-oncológico adulto com meningioma ou glioma durante sua internação no maior hospital filantrópico da América Latina.

Métodos A presente análise econômica observacional descreve os custos diretos de um paciente neuro-oncológico da Santa Casa de São Paulo. Apenas pacientes adultos e com os dois tumores cerebrais primários mais comuns foram considerados.

Resultados Devido a uma mudança no sistema de prontuários, para análise de custos o período analisado foi de dezembro de 2016 a dezembro de 2019. Uma amostra significativa de pacientes com gliomas e meningiomas foi analisada. O custo médio da hospitalização foi de U$ 4.166. O tempo de sala cirúrgica e os cuidados em terapia intensiva representaram a maior proporção dentro do custo total. Um total de 17.5% dos pacientes teve algum tipo de infecção e 66.67% delas ocorreram em procedimentos não eletivos. A taxa de mortalidade foi de 12.5% e 92.3% dos óbitos ocorreram em procedimentos de urgência.

Conclusões Cirurgias de urgência foram mais associadas a taxas de infecção e mortalidade. Os achados do presente estudo podem ser usados por planejadores em política pública de saúde para alocação de recursos e para análise econômica para estabelecer o valor dos procedimentos neurocirúrgicos para atingir metas mundiais.

Keywords

Health Care Costs - Brain Neoplasms - Glioma - Meningioma

Palavras-chave

Custos de Cuidados de Saúde - Neoplasias Encefálicas - Glioma - Meningioma

Authors' Contributions

ALCP: design of the work, acquisition analysis, interpretation of the data for the work, final approval of the version to be published, agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved; JLVA: design of the work, drafting the work, final approval of the version to be published, agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved; RML: interpretation of the data for the work, drafting the work, final approval of the version to be published, agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved; GHFC: interpretation of the data for the work, drafting the work, final approval of the version to be published, agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved; JCEV: design of the work, drafting the work, final approval of the version to be published, agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Publication History

Received: 17 September 2021

Accepted: 05 February 2022

Article published online:
28 December 2022

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