The Economic Burden of Viral hepatitis C infection at various stages of the disease in District Mardan, Pakistan

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It attacks hepatic cells, causing infection and inflammation in the liver, eventually leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC). Globally, around 200M people carry HCV with mortality rate of 350,000 due to chronic complications of the liver triggered by HCV. Objective: To assess the overall annual cost borne by chronic HCV patients at various stages of the disease in District Mardan, Pakistan. Methods: Out of total 160 patients, 135, 19 and 6 patients had non-cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis and other complications respectively, Data were obtained from these identified patients’ trough well designed questions based on their social and economic burden in 2019. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to estimate the direct and indirect medical costs of HCV in District Mardan. Results: This research discovered a significant link between direct and indirect costs and various phases of viral hepatitis C. The per patient annual indirect costs non-medical costs at different stage of HCV infection was found Rs. 10000 (66.57 $), Rs. 25700 (171.10 $) and Rs. 83200 (553.92 $) for non- cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis patients where non-medical costs  were estimated Rs. 2000 (13.31 $), Rs. 3235 (66.57 $), and Rs. 7540 (50.19 $), for non- cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis patients  and their average were estimated as Rs.51533 (343.09 $),  and 4258.33 (28.35. whereas The estimated per patient direct cost for non-cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis are Rs.51060 (339.94 $), 108650 (723.36 $) and 224370(1493.80 $). Conclusions: It was concluded that indirect medical costs grew up with the progression of disease as productivity loss due to absenteeism increases and traveling expenses increases with increased in number of hospital visits.