Objective. To examine health care use and expenditures by Brazilians covered by private health care plans in the last four years of life.
Methods. Health plan provider enrollee files and death certificate data were used for 274 health plan beneficiaries who died in 1998, 1999, and 2000Death; health care costs; insurance, health; terminal care; Brazil.
ABSTRACTIn most populations, life expectancy has increased progressively, generating the need for extended health care for those who now live longer. The significant rise in the incidence of comorbidities and progress in the diagnosis and treatment technologies that are available to extend and improve life have had an impact on the ageing population. Extended life expectancy has been pointed to as the main determinant of increased health care costs in industrialized nations (1, 2). Some authors suggest that rather than the age of a patient, the last months of life and the technological interventions now available are the most important factors determining increased health costs (3, 4).The consequent increase in health care costs is challenging and has motivated intensive research for better strategies for the health care system. The specialized literature suggests that terminal patients receive most of their
Although the trials have shown efficacy of LOLA in reducing hyperammonemia of hepatic encephalopathy, sufficient evidence of a significant beneficial effect of LOLA on patients with hepatic encephalopathy was not found. The studies performed in this area were small, with short follow-up periods and half of them showed low methodological quality.
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