The impact of multimorbidity among adults with cardiovascular diseases on healthcare costs in Indonesia: a multilevel analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Indonesia, accounting for 38% of the total mortality in 2019. Moreover, healthcare spending on CVDs has been at the top of the spending under the National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation. This study analyzed the association between the presence of CVDs with or without other chronic disease comorbidities and healthcare costs among adults (> 30 years old) and if the association differed between NHI members in the subsidized group (poorer) and non-subsidized households group (better-off) in Indonesia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the NHI database from 2016-2018 for individuals with chronic diseases (n = 271,065) ascertained based on ICD-10 codes. The outcome was measured as healthcare costs in USD value for 2018. We employed a three-level multilevel linear regression, with individuals at the first level, households at the second level, and districts at the third level. The outcome of healthcare costs was transformed with an inverse hyperbolic sine to account for observations with zero costs and skewed data. We conducted a cross-level interaction analysis to analyze if the association between individuals with different diagnosis groups and healthcare costs differed between those who lived in subsidized and non-subsidized households. RESULTS: The mean healthcare out- and inpatient costs were higher among patients diagnosed with CVDs and multimorbidity than patients with other diagnosis groups. The predicted mean outpatient costs for patients with CVDs and multimorbidity were more than double compared to those with CVDs but no comorbidity (USD 119.5 vs USD 49.1, respectively for non-subsidized households and USD 79.9 vs USD 36.7, respectively for subsidized households). The NHI household subsidy status modified relationship between group of diagnosis and healthcare costs which indicated a weaker effect in the subsidized household group (ß = -0.24, 95% CI -0.29, -0.19 for outpatient costs in patients with CVDs and multimorbidity). At the household level, higher out- and inpatient costs were associated with the number of household members with multimorbidity. At the district level, higher healthcare costs was associated with the availability of primary healthcare centres. CONCLUSIONS: CVDs and multimorbidity are associated with higher healthcare costs, and the association is stronger in non-subsidized NHI households. Households' subsidy status can be construed as indirect socioeconomic inequality that hampers access to healthcare facilities. Efforts to combat cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and multimorbidity should consider their distinct impacts on subsidized households. The effort includes affirmative action on non-communicable disease (NCD) management programs that target subsidized households from the early stage of the disease.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare utilization among older adults with cardiovascular diseases and multimorbidity in Indonesia: an interrupted time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare utilization globally, but little is known about the effects among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other multimorbidities. This study analyzed the impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare utilization for patients aged 30 years and older with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with or without other chronic disease comorbidities in Indonesia. METHODS: We designed a retrospective cohort study based on the Indonesian National Health Insurance (NHI) sample data from 2016-2020. We defined healthcare utilization as monthly outpatient and inpatient visits related to chronic diseases at the hospital and primary healthcare levels per 10,000 NHI members. We used interrupted time series analysis to evaluate how the healthcare utilization patterns had changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Overall, hospital outpatient visits decreased by 39% when the pandemic occurred (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.48,0.76), inpatient visits by 28% (95% CI: 0.62,0.83), and primary healthcare visits by 34% (95% CI:0.55, 0.81). For patients with CVDs and multimorbidity, hospital outpatient and inpatient visit rates were reduced by 36% and 38%, respectively and primary healthcare visits by 32%. Some insignificant differences in the reduction of out-and inpatient visits were observed across diagnosis groups and regions. CONCLUSION: Healthcare utilization among patients with chronic diseases decreased significantly during COVID-19 and consistently across different chronic diseases and regions. To cope with the unmet needs of healthcare utilization in the context of the pandemic, the healthcare system needs to be strengthened to cater to the needs of the population-at-risk, especially for patients with CVDs and multimorbidity.

Direct Medical Cost of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Associated Complications in Indonesia.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the direct medical cost of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications in the Indonesian population from a payer perspective using a prevalence-based approach. METHODS: The direct medical costs in 2016 were estimated using the database of Indonesia's National Health Insurance, known as Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional, which included diagnosis-related group costs and unbundled costs for patients accessing advanced care. The study population included people aged 30 years or older having a diagnosis of T2DM. T2DM and its related complications were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, code. Hypoglycemia and all complications listed in the Diabetes Severity Complications Index were included. Descriptive analysis was conducted. Costs were converted to 2016 US dollar equivalent. RESULTS: Of the 18.9 million Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional members who accessed secondary and tertiary care, 812 204 (4%) were identified with T2DM, of which 57% had complications. The most common complication was cardiovascular diseases (24%). The total direct medical cost was US $576 million, with 56% spent on hospitalization, 38% on specialist visits, 4% on unbundled non-diabetes-related medication, and 2% on unbundled anti-hyperglycemic medications. Approximately 74% of the total costs was used for the management of people with complications. People with complications (US $930/person/year ± US $1480/person/year) incurred twice the cost of those without complications (US $421/person/year ± US $745/person/year). CONCLUSION: The direct medical cost for management of people with T2DM in Indonesia was high. Early diagnosis and optimal management of T2DM to prevent complications may reduce the costly sequelae and have a possibility of cost savings.

The sensitivity of hospital coding to prices: evidence from Indonesia.

This study examines a newly introduced DRG system in Indonesia. We use secondary data for 2015 and 2017 from Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN), a patient level dataset for Indonesia created in 2014 to record public and private hospitals' claims to the national health insurance system to investigate whether there is an association between changes in tariffs paid and the severity of inpatient activity recorded in hospitals. We find a consistent small, positive and statistically significant correlation between changes in tariffs and changes in concentration of activity, indicating discretionary but limited coding behaviour by hospitals. The results indicate that reducing price differentials may mitigate discretionary coding, but that the benefits of this are limited and need to be compared to the potential risk of having to rebase all prices upwards.

National Health Insurance Databases in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Social health insurance administrative databases were established in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines in 2014, 2017 and 2012, respectively; however, these databases have been scarcely used for research, if at all. This study explored the feasibility and accessibility of using these databases for scientific research, highlighting challenges and barriers in their use. METHODOLOGY: The databases included in this evaluation comprised the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) from Indonesia, Vietnam Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) from Vietnam and PhilHealth from the Philippines. These databases were qualitatively assessed based on the data capture, potential linkage to other databases or registries, data access and extraction, privacy and security, and quality and validation procedures. RESULTS: All databases contain population-based cohort data on the medical costs of reimbursed medical conditions, identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Linkage to other national databases, ensuring protection of patient privacy data, would improve their usability. Duration to database access and data extraction varies from country to country. The main limitations of all databases include the short span of data records, and the unknown degree of internal validity. Both JKN and PhilHealth databases capture bundled claims, inherently excluding information on prescriptions and out-of-pocket expenditure. Due to the recent establishment of the VHIS database, it may not be suitable for studies that intend to explore trends. CONCLUSION: The JKN, VHIS and PhilHealth databases offer population-based, financial, utilization, and demographic data, which could provide valuable epidemiological and pharmacoeconomic insights if the findings are interpreted within the limitations of each database.

The moderating effect of income on the relationship between body mass index and health-related quality of life in Northern Sweden.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and whether this relationship is influenced by the level of income in Northern Sweden. Overweight and obesity are rising major public health problems which also affect HRQoL. While socioeconomic inequalities in health are persisting or increasing in many countries, including Sweden, little attention has been paid to the more complex roles of income in relation to health. Methods: Data were drawn from a 2014 cross-sectional survey from Northern Sweden (Health on Equal Terms), comprising individuals aged 20-84 years (N = 20,082 individuals included for analysis). BMI and HRQoL were self-reported and individual disposable income in 2012 was retrieved from population registers. Multiple linear regressions were performed with HRQoL scores regressed on BMI and income, their interaction and additional covariates. Results: The underweight, overweight and obesity groups reported significantly lower HRQoL compared to the normal weight group. Moreover, the relationship between BMI and HRQoL varied significantly by level of income, with a stronger association among those with the lowest level of income. Conclusions: Income has a role as an effect modifier in the relationship between BMI and HRQoL that can be construed as an indirect income inequality. Efforts to promote HRQoL in populations should consider the different impact of being overweight and obese in different socioeconomic groups.