PCV65 - The Economic Burden of Hypertension in Latin America

Abstract

The economic burden of hypertension (HTN) in the Latin American region has not been previously quantified. This research assessed the economic burden of HTN in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela. To estimate the cost of HTN by country, a prevalence approach was used. Costs were estimated for the year 2015 and included health system expenditures, productivity losses (absenteeism, lower workforce participation, premature mortality) and informal care costs, and deadweight losses associated with government expenditures. Data inputs for costs, including prevalence and mortality were based on secondary data sources informed by a targeted literature review including country specific grey literature and data sources. The study also appraised the value of the loss of healthy life, measured in disability adjusted life years (DALYs), using global burden of disease disability weights. HTN was found to affect approximately 86.7 million people (27% of the adult population, average of 54.3 years old) in selected Latin American countries in 2015 leading to significant wellbeing loss, estimated at 2.7 million DALYs, and economic burden, estimated at USD5.3 billion in 2015. Health system expenditures accounted for USD999 million (18%) and productivity costs USD4.3 billion (82%) of the total financial burden of AF. On average, health system expenditure represented 0.03% of total gross domestic product (GDP) across the nine countries with Colombia (0.04%), Ecuador (0.03%), El Salvador (0.08%), Mexico (0.03%) and Panama (0.04%) spending more than the average. Total financial costs averaged 0.12% of GDP. HTN imposes a significant burden to the health system and society in Latin America. Productivity losses account for the majority of the burden of HTN in the region. Prevention and appropriate management of HTN may result in substantial wellbeing benefits and economic savings.