The Trend of Frequency and Cost of Various Outpatient Diagnostic Procedures for Cardiovascular Diseases in Isfahan Province, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death worldwide today. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and cost of various outpatient diagnostic procedures for cardiovascular diseases insured with the Health Insurance Organization in Isfahan Province, Iran, during the years 2011-2017. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study on the data of the Health Insurance Organization of Isfahan Province. After defining the list of outpatient diagnostic procedures for cardiovascular diseases, the information on the frequency and cost of these procedures were extracted in the form of an Excel file. Results: The total frequency and cost of outpatient diagnostic procedures for cardiovascular diseases over a period of 7 years were 751,421 procedures and 251,670,136,936 Iranian Rials (IRR), respectively. The per capita frequency of total procedures increased from about 19 procedure per thousand to about 115 procedure per thousand of the insured individuals of the Health Insurance Organization of the Isfahan Province. In addition, the per capita cost of these procedures increased from 1,733,815.24 to 46,130,235.10 IRR per thousand individuals. Conclusion: As the frequency and costs of outpatient diagnostic procedures for cardiovascular diseases of insured individuals of the Health Insurance Organization of the Isfahan province respectively raised 6.8 and 29.5 times during 2011-2017, the payment system reforms and prevention and effective control of cardiovascular diseases should be considered by policymakers.

Keywords

• cardiovascular diseases
• cost
• frequency
• iran (isfahan)