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

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

Substantial Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure on Prenatal Check-Ups: Estimates from a Sample of Pregnant Women in Cartagena, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditures and the indirect costs related to prenatal check-ups in pregnant women seen in a maternity hospital in the Colombian Caribbean region. METHODS: We described the economic costs of pregnant women, with no age limits, who attended prenatal check-ups in a maternity hospital. To estimate OOP and indirect costs owing to prenatal check-ups in pregnant women, a survey was constructed, where the woman was asked about some sociodemographic variables, to characterize those attending the prenatal check-ups. Absolute and relative frequencies, averages and confidence intervals were used to characterize the population and estimate OOP and indirect costs in pregnant women. The latter were estimated from the percentile method. A bootstrapping was performed to reduce the bias within the analysis. RESULTS: In total, 56 pregnant women were surveyed, with an average age of 25.9 years (±6.2). All women surveyed had OOP associated to the prenatal check-up in at least one cost-item, and the OOP ranged between $0.3 and $108.7. Transportation was the item with the highest frequency of expenses, followed by food, other expenses, and drugs. The mean of OOP expenditures was $24.3 (CI 95% $18.1-31.4) for women who attended their prenatal check-up. DISCUSSION: Considering the estimated OOP health expenditures caused by prenatal check-ups by household income, women living with <1 minimum wage spend 7% of their income in a prenatal check-up. In women with 1-2 and >2-3 minimum wages, these proportions were 5%, 3%, respectively. Unfortunately, this makes prenatal care a significant source of economic burden, impacting poor households in Cartagena.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of Mucosal Leishmaniasis diagnosis with PCR-based vs parasitological tests in Colombia.

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of available diagnosis alternatives for Mucosal Leishmaniasis (ML) in Colombian suspected patients. A simulation model of the disease's natural history was built with a decision tree and Markov models. The model´s parameters were identified by systematic review and validated by expert consensus. A bottom-up cost analysis to estimate the costs of diagnostic strategies and treatment per case was performed by reviewing 48 clinical records of patients diagnosed with ML. The diagnostic strategies compared were as follows: 1) no diagnosis; 2) parasite culture, biopsy, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and Montenegro skin test (MST) combined ; 3) parasite culture, biopsy, and IFA combined; 4) PCR-miniexon; and 5) PCR-kDNA. Three scenarios were modeled in patients with ML clinical suspicion, according to ML prevalence scenarios: high, medium and low. Adjusted sensitivity and specificity parameters of a combination of diagnostic tests were estimated with a discrete event simulation (DES) model. For each alternative, the costs and health outcomes were estimated. The time horizon was life expectancy, considering the average age at diagnosis of 31 years. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated per Disability Life Year (DALY) avoided, and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. A threshold of willingness to pay (WTP) of three-time gross domestic product per capita (GDPpc) (US$ 15,795) and a discount rate of 3% was considered. The analysis perspective was the third payer (Health System). All costs were reported in American dollars as of 2015. PCR- kDNA was the cost-effective alternative in clinical suspicion levels: low, medium and high with ICERs of US$ 7,909.39, US$ 5,559.33 and US$ 4,458.92 per DALY avoided, respectively. ML diagnostic tests based on PCR are cost-effective strategies, regardless of the level of clinical suspicion. PCR-kDNA was the most cost-effective strategy in the competitive scenario with the parameters included in the present model.

Inequalities on mortality due to acute respiratory infection in children: A Colombian analysis / Desigualdades en la mortalidad debidas a la infección respiratoria aguda en niños: análisis de la situación en Colombia

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a leading public health issue worldwide. Objective: To explore the inequalities in ARI mortality rates in under-5, according to socioeconomic characteristics. Materials and methods: We conducted an ecological analysis to study inequalities at municipal level due to ARI mortality in children under 5 years. The data were obtained from official death records of the Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística. The analysis of inequalities in the under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) included: 1) Classification of the population in different socio-economic strata, and 2) measurement of the degree of inequality. We used the ARI-U5MR as an outcome measurement. The mortality rates were estimated at national and municipal levels for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2013. Rate ratios, rates differences, and concentration curves were calculated to observe the inequalities. Results: A total of 18,012 children under 5 years died by ARI in Colombia from 2000 to 2013. ARIU5MR was greater in boys than in girls. During this period, an increase in the infant mortality relative gap in both boys and girls was observed. In 2013, the U5MR evidenced that for boys from municipalities with the highest poverty had a 1.6-fold risk to die than those in municipalities with the lowest poverty (low tercile). In girls, the ARI-U5MR for 2005 and 2013 in the poorest tercile was 1.5 and 2 times greater than in the first tercile, respectively. Conclusion: Colombian inequalities in the ARI mortality rate among the poorest municipalities compared to the richest ones continue to be a major challenge in public health.

Introducción. Las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) son un importante problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Objetivo. Explorar las desigualdades de la tasa de mortalidad debida a IRA en niños menores de 5 años según las variables socioeconómicas. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un análisis ecológico para estudiar las desigualdades a nivel municipal de las tasas de mortalidad por IRA en menores de 5 años. Los datos se obtuvieron a partir de los registros de muertes del Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística. El análisis de desigualdades incluyó la clasificación de la población por estatus socioeconómico y la medición del grado de desigualdad. Como resultado en salud se utilizó la tasa de mortalidad por IRA en menores de 5 años. Se estimaron tasas a nivel nacional y municipal para 2000, 2005, 2010 y 2013. Se calcularon razones y diferencias de tasas y curvas de concentración para observar las desigualdades. Resultados. Entre 2000 y 2013 murieron por IRA en Colombia 18.012 menores de 5 años. La tasa de mortalidad por ARI fue mayor en niños que en niñas. En el periodo, se observó un incremento en la brecha de mortalidad infantil en ambos sexos. En el 2013, la tasa de niños que murieron en municipios con mayor pobreza fue 1,6 veces mayor que la de niños en aquellos con menos pobreza. En niñas, en el 2005 y el 2013, la tasa en el tercil más pobre fue 1,5 y 2 veces mayor que la del primer tercil, respectivamente. Conclusión. Las desigualdades en la tasa de mortalidad por IRA de los municipios más pobres en comparación con la de los más ricos, continúan siendo un reto importante en salud pública.

Economic Costs of Chikungunya Virus in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to estimate the economic impact of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in Colombia from a societal perspective. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, bottom-up cost-of-illness study in clinically confirmed cases during the first chikungunya (CHIK) outbreak in Colombia in 2014. Direct and indirect costs were estimated per patient. Economic costs were calculated by the addition of direct costs (direct medical costs and out-of-pocket heath expenditures) and indirect cost as a result of loss of productivity. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients (67 children and 59 adults) with CHIK were included. The median of the direct medical cost in children was US$257.9 (interquartile range [IQR] 121.7-563.8), and US$66.6 (IQR 26.5-317.3) for adults. The productivity loss median expenditures reached US$81.3 (IQR 72.2-203.2) per adult patient. The median economic cost in adults as a result of CHIK was US$152.9 (IQR 101.0-539.6), of which 53.2% was a result of indirect costs. Out-of-pocket expenditures comprised 3.3% of all economic costs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study can help health decision makers to properly assess the burden of disease caused by CHIK in Colombia, an endemic tropical country. We recommend to strength the health information systems and to continue investing in public health measures to prevent CHIK.

Vigilancia y análisis de zonas de frontera, puertos de entrada y de población inmigrante / Surveillance and analysis of border areas, ports of entry and immigrant population

RESUMEN Objetivo Realizar una revisión de la literatura sobre los sistemas de información de vigilancia sanitaria y epidemiológica en zonas de frontera y puntos de entrada en Colombia. Materiales y Métodos Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática de literatura mediante la metodología Prisma, términos MeSH y DECS. Para ello, se consultaron, las bases de datos PubMed y BVS entre el 2000 y el 2014. Se incluyeron 51 documentos de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión-exclusión, a partir de los cuales se discutieron las categorías propuestas: servicios de salud, salud mental, estado de salud y determinantes sociales. Resultados El análisis permite evidenciar que la vigilancia epidemiológica y sanitaria de fronteras y puntos de entrada en el ámbito mundial, está enfocado principalmente en ejes como salud mental, eventos transmisibles y eventos de condiciones no transmisibles. Adicionalmente, se da importancia a la atención integral en los servicios de salud y al análisis del estado de salud de la población inmigrante bajo el enfoque diferencial territorial, étnico y cultural. Sin embargo, hay pocas experiencias con un enfoque intersectorial, así como de determinantes sociales, en los territorios con condiciones de zonas de fronteras y/o puntos de entrada. Conclusiones Las diferencias de contexto, sistemas de salud, sistemas de información y prioridades de cada país, hacen que el intercambio y la cooperación entre las fronteras tengan serios retos. Debido a esto, es necesario contar con instrumentos de cooperación entre países limítrofes y análisis e información, con base en el modelo Determinantes Sociales de la Salud.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective Perform a literature review about systems of sanitary and epidemiological surveillance for frontier zones and the points of entry of Colombia. Materials and Methods A systematic literature review using the Prisma methodology, MeSH and DECS terms, was developed in PubMed and BVS bibliographic databases between 2000 and 2014. We included 51 documents according to inclusion-exclusion criteria and we proposed and discussed these categories: health services, mental health, health status and social determinants. Results The analysis makes it possible to evidence that the epidemiological and sanitary surveillance of borders and entry points worldwide, focused mainly on axes such as mental health, transmissible events and events of non-communicable conditions. In addition, the importance of comprehensive care in health services, as well as the analysis of the health status of immigrant population under the territorial, ethnic and cultural differential approach. However, there are few experiences with a social determinants analysis in borders zone and / or entry points. Conclusions Differences in the context, health systems, information systems and priorities of each country make the exchange and cooperation between borders challenging. It is necessary to have instruments of cooperation between neighboring countries and a common information based on the Social Determinants of Health.(AU)

[Surveillance and analysis of border areas, ports of entry and immigrant population]. / Vigilancia y análisis de zonas de frontera, puertos de entrada y de población inmigrante.

OBJECTIVE: Perform a literature review about systems of sanitary and epidemiological surveillance for frontier zones and the points of entry of Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review using the Prisma methodology, MeSH and DECS terms, was developed in PubMed and BVS bibliographic databases between 2000 and 2014. We included 51 documents according to inclusion-exclusion criteria and we proposed and discussed these categories: health services, mental health, health status and social determinants. RESULTS: The analysis makes it possible to evidence that the epidemiological and sanitary surveillance of borders and entry points worldwide, focused mainly on axes such as mental health, transmissible events and events of non-communicable conditions. In addition, the importance of comprehensive care in health services, as well as the analysis of the health status of immigrant population under the territorial, ethnic and cultural differential approach. However, there are few experiences with a social determinants analysis in borders zone and / or entry points. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the context, health systems, information systems and priorities of each country make the exchange and cooperation between borders challenging. It is necessary to have instruments of cooperation between neighboring countries and a common information based on the Social Determinants of Health.

OBJETIVO: Realizar una revisión de la literatura sobre los sistemas de información de vigilancia sanitaria y epidemiológica en zonas de frontera y puntos de entrada en Colombia. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática de literatura mediante la metodología Prisma, términos MeSH y DECS. Para ello, se consultaron, las bases de datos PubMed y BVS entre el 2000 y el 2014. Se incluyeron 51 documentos de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión-exclusión, a partir de los cuales se discutieron las categorías propuestas: servicios de salud, salud mental, estado de salud y determinantes sociales. RESULTADOS: El análisis permite evidenciar que la vigilancia epidemiológica y sanitaria de fronteras y puntos de entrada en el ámbito mundial, está enfocado principalmente en ejes como salud mental, eventos transmisibles y eventos de condiciones no transmisibles. Adicionalmente, se da importancia a la atención integral en los servicios de salud y al análisis del estado de salud de la población inmigrante bajo el enfoque diferencial territorial, étnico y cultural. Sin embargo, hay pocas experiencias con un enfoque intersectorial, así como de determinantes sociales, en los territorios con condiciones de zonas de fronteras y/o puntos de entrada. CONCLUSIONES: Las diferencias de contexto, sistemas de salud, sistemas de información y prioridades de cada país, hacen que el intercambio y la cooperación entre las fronteras tengan serios retos. Debido a esto, es necesario contar con instrumentos de cooperación entre países limítrofes y análisis e información, con base en el modelo Determinantes Sociales de la Salud.

Years of Life Lost (YLL) in Colombia 1998-2011: Overall and Avoidable Causes of Death Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the Years of Life Lost (YLL) for overall and avoidable causes of death (CoD) in Colombia for the period 1998-2011. METHODS: From the reported deaths to the Colombian mortality database during 1998-2011, we classified deaths from avoidable causes. With the reference life table of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 study, we estimated the overall YLL and YLL due to avoidable causes. Calculations were performed with the difference between life expectancy and the age of death. Results are reported by group of cause of death, events, sex, year and department. Comparative analysis between number of deaths and YLL was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 83,856,080 YLL were calculated in Colombia during period 1998-2011, 75.9% of them due to avoidable CoD. The year 2000 reported the highest number of missed YLL by both overall and avoidable CoD. The departments with the highest YLL rates were Caquetá, Guaviare, Arauca, Meta, and Risaralda. In men, intentional injuries and cardiovascular and circulatory diseases had the higher losses, while in women YLL were mainly due to cardiovascular and circulatory diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The public health priorities should focus on preventing the loss of YLL due to premature death and differentiated interventions by sex.

Economic Costs Analysis of the Avoidable Mortality in Colombia 1998-2011.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic costs of avoidable mortality (AM) in Colombia during the period 1998 to 2011, with the human capital perspective valuing the productivity lost. METHODS: The information of cases of avoidable death was identified from the Colombian official general mortality database, and we estimated the potential productivity years of life lost, assuming a productive life span between 18 years and 57 years and 18 years and 62 years in women and men, respectively. Two scenarios were built: lower loss with the minimum wage, and higher loss with the per capita gross domestic product. Total costs for the period were reported by sex and health event. Average cost per 1000 people was also estimated. All costs were adjusted and reported in 2012 US dollars. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of the total AM in Colombia during the period 1998 to 2011 occurred during or before the productivity age. The total AM costs were estimated to range between US $80.5 million and US $150.4 million. Higher costs of AM were incurred in men. Events from the injuries group caused the higher productivity lost. CONCLUSIONS: All the avoidable deaths in Colombia have a huge economic impact from the productivity lost perspective, equivalent to between 1.6% and 3.0% of the annual gross domestic product. The cost analyses in public health are an additional input for decision making and prioritization of intervention.