A multicentric study about the role of educational, social and economic aspects in the usage of medicines for chronic diseases that required hospitalization

Abstract

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and morbidity in Latin America and the Caribbean countries (LAC), since they represent 68% of deaths and 60% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the region. Guaranteeing access and continuity to disease?s treatment, contribute to prevent complications or reduce its severity and consequences. When illness are inappropriate controlled, complication need to be hospitalized. This prospective multi-centric study explores the features of the population attempt by a chronic disease like diabetes or arterial hypertension that need to be admitted in a public hospitals belonging to the Buenos Aires southeast urban network of heath care, Argentina. Our data shows that 50% of these patients depend on the public free medicines supply by the Buenos Aires State, while 35% patients paid in full their own treatments and the rest depends on their Social Security coverage. In 55% of all patients an inappropriate usage of the medicines was detected, and 62% of them interrupt or discontinues their drug consumption due to economic problems; while another 29% do so because of poor understanding of the medical indications; data that contrasts with the official data published by the National Survey about usage and expenditure of medicines in health services. Results obtained from the present study remarks that a public program of medicines to guarantee access and adherence of treatment in social and economical vulnerable patients not only can improve health outcomes but will reduce hospitalizations and another consequences of chronic disease complications.