Economic costs of severe seasonal influenza in Colombia, 2017-2019: A multi-center analysis.

<h4>Objective</h4>To estimate the economic burden of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in lab-confirmed influenza patients from a low-income country setting such as Colombia.<h4>Methods</h4>A bottom-up costing analysis, from both third payer and social perspectives, was conducted. Direct costs of care were based on the review of 227 clinical records of lab-confirmed influenza inpatients in six facilities from three main Colombian cities. Resources were categorized as: length of stay (LOS), diagnostic and laboratory tests, medications, consultation, procedures, and supplies. A survey was designed to estimate out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) and indirect costs covered by patients and their families. Cost per patient was estimated with the frequency of use and prices of activities, calculating median and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) with bootstrapping. Total costs are expressed as the sum of direct medical costs, OOPE and indirect costs in 2018 US dollars.<h4>Results</h4>The media direct medical cost per SARI lab-confirmed influenza patient was US$ 700 (95% CI US$ 552-809). Diagnostic and laboratory tests correspond to the highest cost per patient (37%). Median OOPE and indirect costs per patient was US$ 147 (95% CI US$ 94-202), with the highest costs for caregiver expenses (27%). Total costs were US$ 848 (95% CI US$ 646-1,011), OOPE and indirect costs corresponded to 17.4% of the total. The median of direct medical costs per patient was three times higher in elderly patients.<h4>Conclusion</h4>SARI influenza costs impose a high economic burden on patients and their families. The results highlight the importance of strengthening preventive strategies nationwide in the age groups with higher occurrence and incurred health costs.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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