Cost analysis of outpatient stroke in the public system perspective

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the mean annual cost per year and per patient of stroke in outpatient period by the public system. Methods: The cross-section and quantitative research was consisted by 95 patients from Health Public System in Minas Gerais/Brazil. A questionnaire was applied between September and October of 2014 and from it was estimated the mean annual cost, per patient, of stroke in outpatient period. Results: The Brazilian public system spends, by stroke per year, on average, U$ 305.18 (DP = 185.46) in direct costs and U$ 2,456.80 (DP = 2,945.20) in indirect costs per patient. Conclusions: The public costs of outpatient stroke varied according to indirect costs and they were higher in patients who suffered the injury early, who were in treatment for longer in the public system and who have lost their income due to illness, overloading social security.