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Estimation of direct medical costs of hepatitis C
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Sara Ashtari   1, Mohsen Vahedi2 , Maryam Karkhaneh3 , Mohammad Reza Zali4 , Seyed Moayed Alavian5 |
1- MSc of Epidemiology, Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Sara_Ashtari@yahoo.com
2- PhD of Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- MSc of Epidemiology, Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Gastroenterologist, Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5- Gastroenterologist, Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran |
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Abstract: (8184 Views) |
Background: Nowadays, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major health problems in Iran and the world. Since HCV treatment is costly and affects the patient’s life, in this study we decided to assess the cost of hepatitis C treatment.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we studied 248 medical records of hepatitis C patients who admitted in hepatitis clinic related to Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver diseases between 2006 and 2010. We estimated the direct medical costs of hepatitis C with these data which extracted from medical records of HCV patients. Also the mean direct medical costs were calculated to achieve sustain viral response (SVR).
Results: Mean direct medical costs for the courses treated with conventional interferon-ribavirin (INF-RBV) were 11,544,061 Rial and 66,430,152 Rial for peg-interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-RBV) courses. There was an increase of the direct costs in both courses of treatment in order to achieve SVR. The costs amounted to 26,407,040 Rial in INF-RBV treatment and 112,993,343 Rial in PEG-RBV.
Conclusion: Treatment of hepatitis C is very costly. Screening and effective interventions in care and management of affected patients can delay complications, decrease the treatment course and the costs of treatment, and also relief patient distress and improve their quality of life. |
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| Keywords: Hepatitis C, Direct medical cost, Burden of hepatitis C |
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Full-Text [PDF 184 kb]
(7937 Downloads)
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Semi-pilot: Survey/Cross Sectional/Descriptive |
Subject:
Gastrology
Received: 2014/01/22 | Accepted: 2014/01/22 | Published: 2014/01/22
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