Direct medical costs associated with schizophrenia relapses in health care services in the city of São Paulo
Data(s) |
01/02/2011
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Resumo |
OBJECTIVE: To assess direct medical costs associated with schizophrenia relapses in mental health services. METHODS: The study was conducted in three health facilities in the city of São Paulo: a public state hospital; a Brazilian National Health System (SUS)-contracted hospital; and a community mental health center. Medical records of 90 patients with schizophrenia who received care in 2006 were reviewed. Information on inpatient expenditures was collected and used for cost estimates. RESULTS: Mean direct medical cost of schizophrenia relapses per patient was US$ 4,083.50 (R$ 8,167.58) in the public state hospital; US$ 2,302.76 (R$ 4,605.46) in the community mental health center; and US$ 1,198.50 (R$ 2,397.74) in the SUS-affiliated hospital. The main component was daily inpatient room rates (87% - 98%). Medication costs varied depending on the use of typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs. Atypical antipsychotic drugs were more often used in the community mental health center. CONCLUSIONS: Costs associated with schizophrenia relapses support investments in antipsychotic drugs and strategies to reduce disease relapse and the need for mental health inpatient services. Treating patients in a community mental health center was associated with medium costs and added the benefit of not depriving these patients from family life. |
Formato |
text/html |
Identificador |
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-89102011000100002 |
Idioma(s) |
en |
Publicador |
Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo |
Fonte |
Revista de Saúde Pública v.45 n.1 2011 |
Palavras-Chave | #Schizophrenia/economics #Recurrence #Direct Service Costs #Health Care Costs #Mental Health Services |
Tipo |
journal article |