Shortened first-line TB treatment in Brazil: potential cost savings for patients and health services

Table 3 Total, direct and indirect costs incurred by patients during the last two months of treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (using four methods for productivity loss valuation^a), USD 2013

Costs	Minimum wage, mean (SD) N = 126	SES income per capita, mean (SD) N = 126	Income per activity, mean (SD) N = 126	Reported income, mean (SD) N = 49
Total direct costs (all)^b	96 (148)			114 (162)
Transport	8 (19)			5 (11)
Food	2 (5)			2 (5)
Other non-transport/food	3 (21)			0.5 (3)
Nutritional supplements	82 (143)			105 (158)
Total indirect costs (all)^b	316 (1,466)	316 (1,469)	332 (1,472)	357 (1,985)
Coping costs^d	275 (1,458)			327 (1,982)
Productivity loss	21 (24)	18 (26)	30 (32)	25 (39)
Caregiver/guardian costs	20 (67)	22 (78)	27 (94)	5 (23)
Total costs (all)^b	413 (1,503)	413 (1,507)	153 (206)	144 (163)
Total costs (patients only)^c	361 (1,481)	364 (1,484)	374 (1,486)	411 (1,991)
Total direct costs	51 (74)			57 (77)
Total indirect costs	310 (1,466)	313 (1,469)	323 (1,471)	354 (1,981)

^aMinimum wage refers to the valuation of an productive hour lost based on the minimum wage in Brazil and a 44 weekly hour contract; SES income per capita refers to the valuation of a productive hour based on the average income for a reported socio-economic status; Income activity refers to the valuation of a productive hour based on the average income for the patient’s profession, based on union’s information; Reported income refers to the valuation of a productive hour based on the income reported by the participant. ^bThese costs are presented for both patients and any person accompanying the patient during their visits. ^cThese costs refer to costs incurred by patients only, not including costs incurred by any accompanying person. ^dCoping costs include borrowed money and selling of assets

ISSN: 1472-6963