Costs of Chronic Hepatitis B patients in a developing country

Abstract

Background: Studying the costs of Chronic Hepatitis B in the different severe liver disease aids evaluation of the cost impact of treatment.

Objectives: To assess and compare costs of CHB patients with severe and non-severe liver diseases.

Methods: This is a prospective study conducted among 152 adult CHB patients at an out-patient setting of a general hospital in Thailand. The total cost comprised of direct medical cost, direct non-medical cost and indirect cost at a one year follow up. Severity of liver disease was assessed by the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) at initial day, 6^th and 12^th month of follow up.

Results: Mean (SD) age of the patients was 41.6 (11.8) years. Mean (SD) total cost per year of CHB patients with severe and non-severe liver diseasesgroups were United State Dollar (USD) 1,876.5 (1,481.9) and 1,360.0 (2,278.0). There was no difference of total cost and direct medical costs between the two groups. However, compared to the non-severe liver disease, the severe liver disease had significant mean (SD) direct non-medical costs (USD 238.8 (289.6) vs. 117.0 (160.8), p = .027), and indirect cost (USD 584.2 (794.0) vs. 196.7 (520.2), p = .012) more than the non-severe liver disease.

Conclusions: For CHB patients with severe liver disease, physical illness affects their worry and emotional functions, and the disease incur costs more than the non-severe liver disease. CHB-related diseases could result to productivity loss especially in patients with cirrhosis.