Total healthcare costs analysis and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending primary health facilities in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, in 2019

Abstract

In recent years, hypertension has become more prevalent in Vietnam, causing an increase in healthcare costs related to hypertension control and prevention. This cross-sectional study aims to estimate the costs analysis and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending primary health facilities in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, in 2019. The study employed 498 hypertensive patients seeking healthcare service at primary healthcare facilities from December 2019 to May 2020. The findings showed that the average among hypertensive patients is 68.1, 58.6% are older than 65, 57.2% are men. The total costs for hypertension treatment is VND 199,019. Direct medical costs are VND 104,807, non-medical direct costs are VND 10,231, and the indirect costs are VND 41,554, accounting for 67%, 6%, and 25% of total costs, respectively. The positive associated factors found are gender, occupation, high education level, high number of underlying conditions, higher blood pressure level, statistically significant with p < 0.05. It is concluded that the total costs for the use of hypertensive healthcare service at primary healthcare facilities in Hanam province are reasonable when the patients’ income is taken into account.