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Background Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions worldwide. Asthma-related economic burden has been reported in Latin America, but knowledge about its economic impact to the Colombian health care system and the influence of disease severity is lacking. This study estimated direct medical costs and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with asthma according to severity in Colombia. Methods This study identified all-age patients who had at least one medical event linked to an asthma diagnosis (CIE-10: J45-J46) between 2004 and 2014. Patients were selected if they had a continuous enrollment and uninterrupted insurance coverage between January 1–2015 and December 31–2015 and were categorized into 4 different severity levels using a modified algorithm based on Leidy criteria. Healthcare utilization and costs were estimated in a 1-year period after the identification period. A Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with gamma distribution and log link was used to analyze costs adjusting for patient demographics. Results A total of 20,410 patients were included: 69.5% had mild intermittent, 18.0% mild persistent, 6.9% moderate persistent and 5.5% severe persistent asthma; with mean costs (SD) of $67 (134), $482 (1506), $1061 (1983), $2235 (3426) respectively (p < 0.001). The mean total direct cost was estimated at $331 (1278) per patient. Medication and hospitalization had the higher proportion in total costs (46% and 31% respectively). General physician visits was the most used service (57.2%) and short-acting β-2 agonists the most used medication (24%). Conclusions Health services utilization and direct costs of asthma were highly related to disease severity. Nationwide health policies aimed at the effective control of asthma are necessary and would play an important role in reducing the associated economic impact.

Objective: to estimate the concentration of health spending depending on pathology groups and types of services in a subsidized insurance company which enrolled low-income people (social economic strata 1 and 2) in the Colombian Healthcare System in 2014. Methodology: Health spending was analyzed in 1 666 477 members, set up by pathologies and types of services during 2014. To describe the concentration of health spending, researchers used the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve. Results: the health spending of the insurance company was US418 million. Out of this, 81 % was used in service contained in the mandatory Health Plan (in Spanish, Plan Obligatorio de Salud -POS). The pathology groups that concentrated 43.4% of health spending were cardiovascular (14.3%), cancer (7.8%), respiratory diseases (7.3%), urinary diseases (7%) and trauma (6.9%). Diagnostic, healing and rehabilitation services represented 77.8% of health spending. Hospitalization was the service group with the highest impact on costs (47%), and consultations, the most used. The Lorenz curves showed that 70% of the health spending is concentrated in approximately 20% the Affiliated people, resulting in a 0.58 Gini coefficient. Conclusion: Diagnostic and treatment of chronic non-transmittable diseases concentrate a vast part of health spending, which produces a competition of resources for preventive services and healthcare promotion.

Objetivo: Estimar la concentración del gasto sanitario según grupos de patologías y tipos de servicios en una aseguradora subsidiada que afilia personas pobres (estratos socioeconómicos 1 y 2) al Sistema de Salud de Colombia en 2014. Métodos: Se analizó el gasto sanitario en 1 666 477 afiliados, por grupos de patología y tipos de servicios, en el año 2014. Para la descripción de la concentración del gasto se utilizó el coeficiente de Gini y la curva de Lorenz. Resultados: El gasto sanitario de la aseguradora fue de usd 418 millones. De este, el 81 % se aplicó a servicios contenidos en el Plan Obligatorio de Salud (pos). Los grupos de patologías que concentraron el 43,4 % del gasto sanitario fueron cardiovascular (14,3 %), cáncer (7,8 %), enfermedades respiratorias (7,3 %), enfermedades urinarias (7 %) y traumatismos (6,9 %). Los servicios diagnósticos, curativos y de rehabilitación representaron el 77,8 % del gasto sanitario. La hospitalización fue el grupo de servicio que más impactó el costo (47 %), y las consultas, el más utilizado. Las curvas de Lorenz demostraron que el 70 % del gasto en salud se concentra en aproximadamente el 20 % de los afiliados, generando un coeficiente de Gini de 0,58. Conclusión: El diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles concentran una alta proporción del gasto sanitario, lo cual genera una competencia de recursos para servicios preventivos y de promoción de la salud.

Objetivo Estimar el gasto de bolsillo y la probabilidad de gasto catastrófico de los hogares y sus determinantes socioeconómicos en Cartagena, Colombia.Materiales y Métodos Estudio transversal en una muestra poblacional estratificada aleatoria de hogares de Cartagena. Se estimaron dos modelos de regresión cuyas variables dependientes fueron gasto de bolsillo y probabilidad de gasto catastrófico en salud de los hogares.Resultados El gasto de bolsillo promedio anual en hogares pobres fue 1 566 036 COP (US $783) (IC95% 1 117 597–2 014 475); en hogares de estrato medio 2 492 928 COP (US$ 1246) (IC95% 1 695 845-3 290 011) y en hogares ricos 4 577 172 COP (US$2 288) (IC95% 1 838 222-7 316 122). Como proporción del ingreso, el gasto de bolsillo en salud fue de 14,6% en los hogares pobres, de 8,2% en los hogares de estrato medio y de 7,0% en los hogares ricos. La probabilidad de gasto catastrófico en salud de los hogares pobres fue 30,6% (IC95% 25,6-35,5%), de los de estrato medio del 10,2% (IC95% 4,5-15,9%) y de los hogares de estrato alto del 8,6% (IC95% 1,8-23,0%). El estrato socioeconómico, la educación y la ocupación fueron los principales determinantes del gasto de bolsillo en salud y de la probabilidad de incurrir en gasto catastrófico en salud.Conclusiones En el sistema de salud persisten desigualdades en la protección financiera de los hogares contra el gasto de bolsillo y la probabilidad de gasto catastrófico. El presente estudio genera evidencia para revisar la política de protección social de los hogares socioeconómicamente más vulnerables.

To estimate out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure and the probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure, as well as the socio-demographic determinants of households in Cartagena, Colombia. Population-based cross-sectional study on a randomized stratified sample of Cartagena households. Two regression models were developed using OOP health expenditure and the probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure as dependent variables. The average annual OOP health expenditure was $1 566 036 COP (US$783) (95%CI: $1 117 597 - $2 014 475) in poor households, $2 492 928 COP (US$1 246) (95%CI: $1 695 845 - $3 290 011) in middle class households, and $4 577 172 COP (uS$2 288) (95%CI: $1 838 222 - $7 316 122) in upper class households. Regarding the household income ratio, the OOP health expenditure was 14.6% in poor households, 8.2% in middle class, and 7.0% in upper class households. The probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure was 30.6% (95%CI: 25.6% - 35.5%), 10.2% (95%CI: 4.5%-15.9%) and 8.6% (95%CI: 1.8%-23%) in the low, middle- and high-class households, respectively. Educational attainment, socioeconomic strata and employment were the main determinants of OOP and the probability to incur in catastrophic health expenditure. The health system has persistent inequalities regarding the financial protection of households related to out-of-pocket expenditure and the probability of catastrophic expenditure. This study provides evidence to review the social protection policy for the most socio-economically vulnerable households.

Death is now an inevitable fact, however, life expectancy has changed significantly in time and still in our day it differs widely between human groups. The advancement of health technology has allowed certain causes of death to be controlled, postponed or avoided. Therefore, the objective of this research is to measure the impact of a preventable death cause on demographic variables in the Colombian Caribbean region 1999-2014. To achieve this, the hypothetical method of elimination of Causes of life-table deaths was used. The results indicate that in this period of study, deaths from diseases of the circulatory system and external causes of mortality had been avoided, the life expectancy of this population would have been significantly prolonged.