Health economic burden of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has added a massive economic burden on health care systems worldwide. Saudi Arabia is one of the numerous countries that have been economically affected by this pandemic. The objective of this study was to provide real-world data on the health economic burden of COVID-19 on the Saudi health sector and assess the direct medical costs associated with the management of COVID-19.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted based on data collected from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across 10 institutions in eight different regions in Saudi Arabia. The study calculated the direct medical costs of all cases during the study period by using SAS statistical analysis software. These costs included costs directly related to medical services, such as the health care treatment, hospital stays, laboratory investigations, treatment, outcome, and other related care.ResultsA total of 5,286 adult patients admitted with COVID-19 during the study period were included in the study. The average age of the patients was 54 years, and the majority were male (79%). Among the COVID-19 patients hospitalized in a general ward, the median hospital length of stay was 5.5 days (mean: 9.18 days), while the ICU stay was 4.2 days (mean: 7.94 days). The total medical costs for general ward and ICU patients were US$ 38,895 and US$ 24,207,296.9, respectively. The total laboratory investigations ranked as the highest-cost services US$ 588,975 followed by treatment US$ 3,886,509.8. Overall, the total cost of all medical services for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was US$ 51,572,393.4.ConclusionThis national study found that COVID-19 was not only a serious concern for patients but also a serious economic burden on the health care system in Saudi Arabia.

The economic burden of viral severe acute respiratory infections in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A nationwide cost-of-illness study

“…Data on the total burden of viral SARIs from the payer and societal perspectives in Middle Eastern countries, including the KSA, are scarce and conflicting. A study from the KSA found laboratory investigations and treatment costs to be the major cost drivers [7] , while another study from Iran found hospital beds, medicines, and medical consumables to drive major costs [25] .…”

“…In previous literature, the management cost varied across different periods, settings, and regions. Between 2020-2021, the total cost of medical services for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in KSA was estimated at USD 51,565,628, which included patients admitted to the general ward (USD 38,895) and ICU (USD 24,207,297) [7] . Another study noticed high direct medical cost burden per patient with COVID-19 in the KSA (USD 11,387.86 ± USD 7949.66 for general ward patients and USD 21,178.21± USD 14,839.38 for patients in ICU) [26] .…”

“…Reports suggest that the estimated cumulative costs of the COVID-19 pandemic are more than $16 trillion, or approximately 90% of the annual gross domestic product of the US [5] , [6] . A recent retrospective study from the KSA reported the average cost per patient for the treatment of COVID-19 as 44,316 Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) (United States dollar [USD] 10,182.5) [7] , which is much higher than the cost reported in the US (USD 3045) [5] . COVID-19 was a serious concern for patients since it posed a serious economic burden on health care systems, including the KSA [7] .…”