Acute Coronary Syndrome Treatment Costs from the Perspective of the Supplementary Health System

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is defined as a “group of clinical symptomscompatible with acute myocardial ischemia”, representing the leading cause ofdeath worldwide, with a high clinical and financial impact. In this sense, thedevelopment of economic studies assessing the costs related to the treatment ofACS should be considered.

Objective

To evaluate costs and length of hospital stay between groups of patients treatedfor ACS undergoing angioplasty with or without stent implantation (stent+ /stent-), coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and treated only clinically(Clinical) from the perspective of the Brazilian Supplementary Health System(SHS).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of medical claims of beneficiaries of health plans wasperformed considering hospitalization costs and length of hospital stay formanagement of patients undergoing different types of treatment for ACS, betweenJan/2010 and Jun/2012.

Results

The average costs per patient were R$ 18,261.77, R$ 30,611.07, R$ 37,454.94 and R$40,883.37 in the following groups: Clinical, stent-, stent+ and CABG,respectively. The average costs per day of hospitalization were R$ 1,987.03, R$4,024.72, R$ 6,033.40 and R$ 2,663.82, respectively. The average results forlength of stay were 9.19 days, 7.61 days, 6.19 days and 15.20 days in these samegroups. The differences were significant between all groups except Clinical andstent- and between stent + and CABG groups for cost analysis.

Conclusion

Hospitalization costs of SCA are high in the Brazilian SHS, being significantlyhigher when interventional procedures are required.