Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022

AimWe estimated the average direct cost per Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) in-patient episodes by diagnosis, namely ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), unstable angina (UA), and undetermined AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction). We also analyzed...

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Main Authors: Francisco Madeira, Carla Martins, Susana Viegas, Ana Teresa Timóteo, Fátima Loureiro, Julian Perelman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1433307/full
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author Francisco Madeira
Carla Martins
Susana Viegas
Ana Teresa Timóteo
Ana Teresa Timóteo
Fátima Loureiro
Julian Perelman
author_facet Francisco Madeira
Carla Martins
Susana Viegas
Ana Teresa Timóteo
Ana Teresa Timóteo
Fátima Loureiro
Julian Perelman
author_sort Francisco Madeira
collection DOAJ
description AimWe estimated the average direct cost per Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) in-patient episodes by diagnosis, namely ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), unstable angina (UA), and undetermined AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction). We also analyzed the changes in direct costs over time between 2002 and 2022, and the total direct economic burden of ACS hospitalizations for the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS).MethodsWe used the Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (61,440 ACS hospitalizations), a cohort of people with ACS, recruited and followed from first hospitalization. A direct cost analysis was conducted. As resources, we considered health professional working hours, non-medical resources used during in-patient stays, laboratory and diagnostic tests, interventional cardiology procedures, pharmaceuticals, hospitalization-related complications, rehabilitation services, and death costs. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify the main cost determinants.ResultsThe average cost per ACS patient from 2002 to 2022 was 6,280.79 €. A significantly higher average cost was observed among patients diagnosed with STEMI of 3,853.26€ (95% confidence interval [CI] 3,690.87 to 4,015.65€), among NSTEMI patients of 1,308.91 € (95% CI 1,173.52 € to 1,444.30 €), and among patients who died during the hospitalization of 12,017.64€ (95% CI 11,232.21 € to 12,803.08 €). Over time, cost trends fluctuated, increasing until 2011 and then gradually decreasing until 2022, apart from 2020. Considering the total universe of 294,307 ACS-hospitalizations, the Portuguese NHS incurred a direct economic burden of 1,831 million euros over the complete period, with total annual costs averaging 87,203,851 €, representing on average 0.93% of the NHS annual health expenditure.ConclusionACS represent a significant direct cost and economic burden for the NHS.
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spelling doaj-art-e8b3372b29f64e23b4fa76878d1807752025-08-20T03:02:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14333071433307Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022Francisco Madeira0Carla Martins1Susana Viegas2Ana Teresa Timóteo3Ana Teresa Timóteo4Fátima Loureiro5Julian Perelman6NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCardiology Department, Santa Marta Hospital, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central, Lisbon, PortugalNOVA Medical School, Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalNational Center for Data Collection in Cardiology, Portuguese Society of Cardiology, Coimbra, PortugalNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAimWe estimated the average direct cost per Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) in-patient episodes by diagnosis, namely ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), unstable angina (UA), and undetermined AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction). We also analyzed the changes in direct costs over time between 2002 and 2022, and the total direct economic burden of ACS hospitalizations for the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS).MethodsWe used the Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (61,440 ACS hospitalizations), a cohort of people with ACS, recruited and followed from first hospitalization. A direct cost analysis was conducted. As resources, we considered health professional working hours, non-medical resources used during in-patient stays, laboratory and diagnostic tests, interventional cardiology procedures, pharmaceuticals, hospitalization-related complications, rehabilitation services, and death costs. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify the main cost determinants.ResultsThe average cost per ACS patient from 2002 to 2022 was 6,280.79 €. A significantly higher average cost was observed among patients diagnosed with STEMI of 3,853.26€ (95% confidence interval [CI] 3,690.87 to 4,015.65€), among NSTEMI patients of 1,308.91 € (95% CI 1,173.52 € to 1,444.30 €), and among patients who died during the hospitalization of 12,017.64€ (95% CI 11,232.21 € to 12,803.08 €). Over time, cost trends fluctuated, increasing until 2011 and then gradually decreasing until 2022, apart from 2020. Considering the total universe of 294,307 ACS-hospitalizations, the Portuguese NHS incurred a direct economic burden of 1,831 million euros over the complete period, with total annual costs averaging 87,203,851 €, representing on average 0.93% of the NHS annual health expenditure.ConclusionACS represent a significant direct cost and economic burden for the NHS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1433307/fullacute coronary syndromeacute myocadial infarctioncost analysiseconomic burden of diseasePortugal
spellingShingle Francisco Madeira
Carla Martins
Susana Viegas
Ana Teresa Timóteo
Ana Teresa Timóteo
Fátima Loureiro
Julian Perelman
Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
Frontiers in Public Health
acute coronary syndrome
acute myocadial infarction
cost analysis
economic burden of disease
Portugal
title Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
title_full Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
title_fullStr Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
title_full_unstemmed Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
title_short Direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the Portuguese National Health Service—facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
title_sort direct economic burden of acute coronary syndromes in the portuguese national health service facts and trends between 2002 and 2022
topic acute coronary syndrome
acute myocadial infarction
cost analysis
economic burden of disease
Portugal
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1433307/full
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