BMC Public Health
Volume 9, 2009

Direct and indirect costs of tuberculosis among immigrant patients in the Netherlands (Article) (Open Access)

Kik S.V. , Olthof S.P. , De Vries J.T. , Menzies D. , Kincler N. , Van Loenhout-Rooyakkers J. , Burdo C. , Verver S.
  • a Research Unit, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Research Unit, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands
  • c Research Unit, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands
  • d Respiratory Division, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • e Respiratory Division, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • f Department of Tuberculosis Control, Municipal Health Service Regio Nijmegen, Netherlands
  • g Department of Tuberculosis Control, Municipal Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • h Research Unit, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Background. In low tuberculosis (TB) incidence countries TB affects mostly immigrants in the productive age group. Little empirical information is available about direct and indirect TB-related costs that patients face in these high-income countries. We assessed the direct and indirect costs of immigrants with TB in the Netherlands. Methods. A cross-sectional survey at 14 municipal health services and 2 specialized TB hospitals was conducted. Interviews were administered to first or second generation immigrants, 18 years or older, with pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB, who were on treatment for 1-6 months. Out of pocket expenditures and time loss, related to TB, was assessed for different phases of the current TB illness. Results. In total 60 patients were interviewed. Average direct costs spent by households with a TB patient amounted 353. Most costs were spent when being hospitalized. Time loss (mean 81 days) was mainly due to hospitalization (19 days) and additional work days lost (60 days), and corresponded with a cost estimation of 2603. Conclusion. Even in a country with a good health insurance system that covers medication and consultation costs, patients do have substantial extra expenditures. Furthermore, our patients lost on average 2.7 months of productive days. TB patients are economically vulnerable.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Netherlands extrapulmonary tuberculosis immigrant hospitalization economics health insurance human middle aged Aged Cross-Sectional Studies health care cost Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans lung tuberculosis Adolescent male female tuberculosis cost of illness Article major clinical study absenteeism adult migration Emigration and Immigration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-69549084994&doi=10.1186%2f1471-2458-9-283&partnerID=40&md5=4f37a44c0465c6da40013be012521fa8
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-283
ISSN: 14712458
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English