Introduction:

Health-related loss of quality of life among dengue patients and their relatives, and unforeseen family expenses incurred for this reason, have not been sufficiently studied in Cuba.

Objective:

Describe the impact on quality of life, as well as the non-medical direct and indirect unforeseen expenses incurred by patients hospitalized with dengue and their relatives.

Method:

A cost analysis study was conducted based on data provided by patients hospitalized with dengue in Salvador Allende Clinical Surgical Hospital and their relatives in November 2013. A closed-ended questionnaire of 173 questions was applied in January-February 2014. Estimation was made of average health-related loss of quality of life, direct non-medical costs and indirect costs.

Results:

The 30-44 years age group was the most harshly affected during the episode. There was a predominance of the female sex (63.3%). Health-related quality of life decreased dramatically from an average 86.9 the day before the disease to 27.8 on the day when patients felt the worst. At the time of the interview, 51% of the patients perceived that they had not recovered from the disease. Mean hospital stay was 5 days. Unforeseen patient and family expenses rose to 61.24 CUC (CI 95%; 43.23-79.25 CUC), of which 66.2 % was spent on food and 13.6 % on transport. Average income loss was 25.30 CUC for patients and 4.50 CUC for relatives. Total average cost per patient was 89.25 CUC (CI 95% 67.33-110.29 CUC).

Conclusions:

Evidence was found of loss of quality of life as a result of dengue. Unforeseen expenses were high, representing three times the mean salary in the province of Havana.

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