Prevalence of non-communicable diseases and economic burden of patients in 8 typical cities

Objective To analyze the prevalence of non-communicable diseases(NCDs)and the average annual economic burden of patients of top 10 NCDs.Methods Data were collected through household survey in 2011 in 8 cities including Hangzhou,Hefei,Wuhan,Chengdu,Wuxi,Tongling,Baoji,and Shihezi.Two-step model and human capital approach was used to measure the direct and indirect economic cost of NCDs.Results The prevalence of NCDs was 325.2‰,and the top ten NCDs were hypertension(161.7‰),diabetes(49.3‰),coronary heart disease(49.3‰),cerebrovascular diseases(10.8‰),chronic gastroenteritis(7.3‰),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(6.3‰),rheumatoid arthritis(6.1‰),lumbar disc disease(4.8‰),malignant tumor(3.6‰),and gallstone cholecystitis(3.6‰).The total average annual economic burden of the patients with the diseases were 2 677,4 726,7 825,21 688,6 341,8 843,8 871,15 448,60 401,and 7 443 RMB Yuan.The major part of the disease burden was direct medical expenditure.The structures of the disease burdens varied.The self-treatment drug expenditure accounted for 55.0% and 57.9%,respectively,of direct economic cost of hypertension and diabetes,and for coronary heart disease,cerebrovascular disease,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,malignant tumor and gallstone cholecystitis,the main expenses were inpatient services,accounting for over 50%of direct economic cost.Conclusion NCDs,especially cerebrovascular diseases and cancer,caused serious negative influences on the patients and their families.To reduce the heavy economic burden of NCDs needs involvement of all citizens and the implementation of health policies.