Direct medical expenses and its influencing factors of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Wuhan / 中华疾病控制杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the direct medical expenses and its influencing factors of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) from 2011 to 2018 in Wuhan, so as to provide references for improving the TB derating policy. Methods A total of 1 258 953 medical records were studied, the direct medical expenses and its influencing factors were analyzed by rank sum test, multivariable linear regression and generalized estimated equation. Results The average direct medical expense of TB outpatients was 147.51 yuan each time, while that of TB inpatients was 8 849.57 yuan; and the average direct medical expenses of each year was 9 607.01 yuan per person. The average reimbursement ratio for TB outpatients was 6.36%, and 67.56% for inpatients. Analysis on the influencing factors showed that the direct medical expenses were related with patients’ age, sex, year, health care insurance, medical institution and whether they had surgery and Chinese traditional medicine or not (all P<0.01). Conclusions The current direct medical expenses of TB inpatients are relatively affordable, but low-income patients and patients still have heavy financial burden. TB treatment cycle is long and the outpatient medical service B also safficient. Improved derating policy is in need.