PCV50 Economic Burden of Major Cardiovascular Diseases and Ischemic Stroke in Saudi Arabia: A Cost of Illness Study

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in Saudi Arabia resulting to approximately 45.7% of all deaths cases. CVD represent a major economic burden to any healthcare system due to the high utilization of medical resources. This study aimed to estimate the economic burden and resource utilization of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Ischemic Stroke (IS) patients in Saudi Arabia. This was a retrospective, single-center cost of illness study conducted from healthcare perspective. Patients medical records from Prince Sultan Cardiac Center (PSCC) in Riyadh were reviewed from January through December 2018. Patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of ACS or IS were included in this study. Prices and healthcare costing data were collected from the Ministry of Health, and PSCC business centre costing data. Descriptive statistics were performed. A total of 316 patients were eligible for this study. The average annual cost of each ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patient was SAR 54,877 and SAR 50,215, respectively. The average annual cost of each unstable and stable angina patient was SAR 43,838 and SAR 41,640, respectively. The average annual cost per IS patient was SAR 89,739. The major drivers of costs among all study population were costs related to procedures which accounted for 39% of the total costs, followed hospitalization and medication costs (27% and 11%, respectively). ACS and IS comprise a heavy economic burden to Saudi healthcare system. The results of this study may inform efficient policy making by considering proper methods of recourses allocations especially for services that consume larger portions of the budgets dedicated to CVD and IS. Further studies are required to investigate the economic value of CVD and IS interventions, programs and services, a step that may help lowering the economics burden of CVD and IS in Saudi Arabia.