Association between disease and Catastrophic and Impoverishing health expenditure in East Azerbaijan province in 2018

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Although the prevalence and economic burden of chronic diseases is increasing worldwide, there are few studies on the catastrophic and Impoverishing health expenditure associated with diseases. Purpose: This study was designed and conducted to investigate the relationship between diseases and Catastrophic and Impoverishing health Expenditure and to determine some factors affecting these costs. Methods and Materials: This study was conducted using the data collected 1706 households for provincial health accounts in 2018. The determinants of Catastrophic and Impoverishing Expenditure were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The present study shows that the poverty line for urban households is 6,992,226 Rials per month and for rural households is 4,318,748 Rials per month. It also shows that 13.21% of urban households and 15.44% of rural households in 2018 have incurred catastrophic health Expenditures. The study shows that 8.71 percent of urban households and 1.22 percent of rural households were transferred to the poverty line due to health Expenditures. The presence of diseases had a positive relationship with catastrophic and Impoverishing health expenditure, and among the diseases, the highest impact factor is related to the diseases of the fourth group (non-communicable diseases, which are also considered as chronic diseases in this study). Conclusion: Non-communicable diseases (group 4) had the greatest impact on the catastrophic and Impoverishing health expenditure in this study. The expansion of insurance support in providing health to people with chronic diseases, because of the great impact of these diseases, can reduce the exposure to the catastrophic and Impoverishing health expenditure.