Direct and Indirect Costs of Caring for Patients with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

Abstract

Objective: To determine direct and indirect non-medical costs derived from caring for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in three health institutions located in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 77 patients with NCDs and their family caregivers, who were selected through systematic sampling between 2018 and 2019. Results: Most people with NCDs are women (55 %) at an average age of 70. Four out of five caregivers are women, at an average age of 40, who deliver care for an average of 14 hours a day. The total monthly cost for patient care was on average 324,207 COP. The most significant costs are related to health, food, housing, transport, and communication. 60.5 % of NCDs patients were responsible for household finances before becoming ill. About half of them stopped working and the other half experienced a reduction of 33 % in their monthly income after becoming ill. Conclusion: due to the need for complementary and comprehensive treatment, care, and interventions, costs related to care of NCDs patients increase despite the income of NCDs patients and their caregivers do not.