Cost of chronic hepatitis B infection in China

Goals: The objective of this study was to estimate the direct medical costs associated with the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and its complications in China. Background: CHB infection is a major health problem in China, with an estimated 112 million chronic carriers. However, the economic burden associated with CHB and its complications has not been well characterized. Study: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of a sample of patients with CHB from Beijing, China was conducted. The utilization and costs were estimated for four illness stages associated with CHB (CHB infection, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma). Annual utilization and costs were estimated for inpatient, outpatient, and medications for each illness stage and valued in year 2002 U.S. dollars (currency conversion was based on a 2002 exchange rate of 8.271 Chinese Yuan Renminbi = U.S. $1). Results: A total of 837 patients were identified for inclusion in the study. The average annual treatment costs per person were as follows: CHB, $142; compensated cirrhosis, $185; decompensated cirrhosis, $1702; and hepatocellular carcinoma, $4741. Conclusions: The results from this analysis provide estimates of the costs associated with CHB and its complications in China and show that progression of the disease is associated with increasing healthcare costs. These estimates can be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intervention.