Economic report on the cost of dengue fever in Vietnam: case of a provincial hospital

Figures & data

Figure 1 Selection and classification of patients studied.

Abbreviations: ICD, International Classification of Diseases; WHO, World Health Organization.

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of enrolled patients (n=168)

Characteristic	Value	%
Age (years)
Mean ± SD	23.2±13.3
≤15	60	35.7
>15	108	64.3
Range	4–78
Sex
Male	83	49.4
Female	85	50.6
Occupation
Student	67	39.9
Farmer	8	4.8
Worker	55	32.7
State official	10	6
Businessman	2	1.2
Domestic	10	6
Other	16	9.4
History of dengue
Yes	12	7.1
No	156	92.9
Health insurance (%)
0	42	25
50	7	4.2
80	105	62.5
95	4	2.4
100	10	5.9
Income (US$)
Mean ± SD	202±74
Ensure living quality	122	72.6
Days lost (mean ± SD)
Patient
Prehospitalization	1.8±1
Hospitalization	5.2±2.1
Posthospitalization	3.6±2.4
Total	7.8±2.9
Caregiver	7.6±2.1

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Health care center prehospitalization period and generally used medical service in the treatment of dengue

Characteristic	n	%
Prehospitalization health care center
Private clinic	73	43.5
Pharmacy	67	39.9
Self-medication	1	0.6
No treatment	27	16
Laboratory test
Total blood-cell analysis by laser counter (22TS)	144	85.7
AST/ALT	123	73.2
Electrolytes (Na, K, Cl)	110	65.5
Quantification of urea	118	70.2
Quantification of creatinine substances	119	70.8
Rapid-test dengue NS1 Ig	141	83.9
Ultrasonic	107	63.7
Pharmaceutical
Magnesium gluconate	83	49.4
Probiotics	53	31.5
Clorphenamine 4 mg	106	63.1
Paracetamol 650 mg	85	50.6
Paracetamol 500 mg	71	42.3

Table 3 Mean ± SD cost per case in prehospitalization, hospitalization, and posthospitalization periods

Age (years)	≤15 (n=60)	>15 (n=108)	P-value*	All ages (n=168)	P-value**
Prehospitalization					0.037
Direct medical cost	10.9±17.2	10.6±15.9	0.902	10.7±16.4
Direct nonmedical cost	16.1±8.5	5.8±9	0.025	9.5±10.1
Indirect cost	10.5±6.6	12.8±8.3	<0.001	12±7.7
Total cost	37.3±27	29.1±25.9	0.08	32.1±26.5
Hospitalization					0.521
Direct medical cost	27.7±31.2	44.1±26.7	<0.001	38.2±29.3
Direct nonmedical cost	32.3±27.6	36.5±22.4	<0.001	35±28.2
Indirect cost	48.6±13.9	18.9±19.1	0.097	29.5±17.5
Total cost	108.6±57.5	99.5±44.5	0.285	102.7±49.5
Posthospitalization					0.864
Direct medical cost	–		–
Direct nonmedical cost	14.3±12.9	10.8±14.3	0.38	12±13.8
Indirect cost	22.8±14.3	20.5±13.7	0.601	21.3±13.8
Total cost	35.8±17	29.5±21.5	0.252	31.7±20.1
Total					0.358
Direct medical cost	36.8±34	52.9±29.3	0.002	47.1±31.9
Direct nonmedical cost	66.6±33.1	26.7±33	<0.001	41.1±38
Indirect cost	47.6±17.3	52.9±25.1	0.108	51±22.7
Total cost	151.0±63.5	132.7±59.9	0.068	139.3±61.7

Notes:

* Comparison of average cost between two subgroups (≤15 years and >15 years);

** comparison of average total cost among three periods of treating dengue (rehospitalization, hospitalization, and posthospitalization).

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Table 4 Cost per case (mean ± SD) by cost component (n=168)

Age (years)	≤15 (n=60)	>15 (n=108)	P-valuea	All ages		P-valuec
				Mean ± SD	Totalb (%)
Direct medical cost						<0.001
Health care service	10.9±17.2	10.6±15.9	0.902	10.7±16.4	1,496.2 (6.4)
Hospital bed	14.4±6.7	22.3±23.1	0.001	19.4±19.3	3,224.9 (13.8)
Diagnosis	3.1±3.7	4.4±2.8	0.019	4±3.2	660 (2.8)
Operation	13.4±11.9	13.6±6.6	0.948	13.5±8.1	1,558.2 (6.7)
Pharmaceutical	3.8±12.8	5.9±5.7	0.225	5.1±8.9	846.9 (3.5)
Medical supplies	0.8±2.7	1±1.3	0.545	1±1.8	134.9 (0.6)
Direct nonmedical cost
Transport	2.8±2.6	3.2±7	0.589	3±5.8	397.7 (1.7)	<0.001
Meal	18.9±6.4	12.1±6.7	<0.001	14.6±7.3	2,447.7 (10.5)
Caregiver	51.5±23.6	53.4±27.9	0.774	52.1±24.9	4,063 (17.4)
Indirect cost
Productivity lost	47.6±17.3	52.9±25.1	0.108	51±22.7	8,567.6 (36.6)	0.198
Total cost	151±63.5	132.7±59.9	0.068	139.2±61.7	23,397.1 (100)	0.358

Notes:

a Comparison of average cost between two subgroups (≤15 years and >15 years);

b total treatment cost of 168 patients

c comparison of total cost among three cost components of treating dengue (direct medical cost, direct nonmedical cost, and indirect cost).

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Figure 2 Sensitivity analysis of cost of illness for dengue to change in intensity of care (percentage change in total cost).