Cost exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted to a pulmonary rehabilitation program

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Exacerbation contributes to the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and generates high costs for the Unified Health System (SUS). In this sense, our aim was to estimate the cost of SUS in the exacerbations of COPD patients in different times of stay in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) of Santa Cruz Hospital (HSC). Methods: 32 medical records of patients with COPD were analyzed through the HSC computerized system,from November to December 2015. Subsequently, they were stratified according to PRP time: Group 1 (G1, n=4), ˂2 months; Group 2 (G2, n=20), 2-12 months; And Group 3 (G3, n=8), ≥12 months. Results: There was a predominance of males (n=19, 59.3%), adult age (63.5±6.9 years), FEV 1 1.03±0.47l/min, predicted FEV 1 39.4±16.5%, and severe disease staging (n=14, 43.7%). Moderate (n=34) and severe (n=3) exacerbations were recorded, totaling R$ 7,030.78 for SUS. However, only 2 individuals maintained a smoking habit. G3 was lower in disease severity (n=2, 25%), exacerbation rate (n=3, 37.5%) and costs for SUS (R$ 40.8±14.5). Conclusion: The reduction in the amount and severity of exacerbations, as well as lower SUS costs, are directly related to the longer stay in PRP.