Indirect costs and public finance consequences of heart failure in Poland, 2012–2015

Abstract

BackgroundAs a consequence of unfavourable epidemiological trends and the development of disease management, the economic aspects of heart failure (HF) have become more and more important. The costs of treatment (direct costs) appear to be the most frequently addressed topic in the economic research on HF; however, less is known about productivity losses (indirect costs) and the public finance burden attributable to the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the indirect costs and public finance consequences of HF in Poland in the period 2012–2015.MethodsThe study uses a societal perspective and a prevalence-based top-down approach to estimate the following components of HF indirect costs: absenteeism of the sick and their caregivers, presenteeism of the sick, disability, and premature mortality. The human capital method has been chosen to identify the value of productivity losses attributable to HF and the public finance consequences of the disease. Deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the results.ResultsThe total indirect costs of HF in Poland were €871.9 million in 2012, and they increased to €945.3 million in 2015. In the period investigated, these costs accounted for 0.212–0.224% of GDP, an equivalent of 22.63€–24.59€ per capita. Mortality proved to be the main driver of productivity losses, with 59.3–63.4% of the total costs depending on year, followed by presenteeism (21.1–22.5%), disability (11.1–14.2%) and the sick’s absenteeism (3.3–4.0%). The cost of caregivers’ absenteeism was unimportant. The social insurance expenditure for benefits associated with HF accounted for €40.7 million in 2012 and €45.6 million in 2015 (0.56–0.59% expenditure for all diseases). The potential public revenue losses associated with HF were €262.7–€287.9 million. Sensitivity analysis showed that the costs varied by − 12.1% to + 28.8% depending on the model parameter values.ConclusionHF is a substantial burden on the economy and public finance in Poland. By confronting the disease more effectively, the length and quality of life for those affected by HF could be improved, but society as a whole could also benefit from the increased economic output.

Cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure: an international study

“…HF is associated with several symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath and fatigue) that impair quality of life and is also associated with high mortality rates, recurrent hospitalizations, and high direct and indirect costs …”

“…shortness of breath and fatigue) that impair quality of life 3 and is also associated with high mortality rates, recurrent hospitalizations, and high direct and indirect costs. [4][5][6] Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common co-morbid condition in patients with HF. 7 Several studies have shown that CI in HF ranges between 20% and 80%, 7,8 and that CI is associated with poor HF outcomes, such as death, hospital readmission, and poor self-care.…”

Artificial intelligence supported patient self-care in chronic heart failure: a paradigm shift from reactive to predictive, preventive and personalised care

“…The UK’s Centre for Economics and Business Research concluded that the cost of cardiovascular disease in Europe will rise from €100 billion to approximately €120 billion over the next 10 years [7]. Indirect costs of HF also need to be considered, though less explored, as they contribute extensively to the overall burden caused by HF [24]. For example, in Poland, a substantial public finance burden of HF was calculated at €871.9 million in 2012, which increased to €945.3 million in 2015 [24].…”

“…Indirect costs of HF also need to be considered, though less explored, as they contribute extensively to the overall burden caused by HF [24]. For example, in Poland, a substantial public finance burden of HF was calculated at €871.9 million in 2012, which increased to €945.3 million in 2015 [24].…”

Health Behavior and Health and Psychosocial Planning for Retirement among Spanish Health Professionals

“…During the past decades, the collective of health professionals in developed countries has aged, and this tendency is expected to continue [1,2,3,4]. Soon, the higher prevalence of occupational diseases and work-related health conditions among these workers may reduce their participation in employment, decrease their performance [5,6], and, at the same time, increase their personal health care expenditure and the public health expenditure [7]. Accordingly, the study of health behavior in the face of retirement in this collective is of special interest.…”