TITLE:
Cost of Medical Treatment for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Relation to Patients’ Income and Its Impact on the Prognosis of the Disease, in Bouaké University Hospital
AUTHORS:
Yves Ouattara, Liliane Ella Godé, Zana Diabaté, Franck Hermann Koffi, Mamadou Korka Diallo, Philippe Emile France Koffi Bilé, Diomandé François Gossé, Ibrahim Abib Diomandé
KEYWORDS:
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, Treatment Cost, Medical Treatment, Income, Blindness
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.14 No.1,
February
9,
2024
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Medical treatment for POAG is
continuous and lifelong treatment. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the relationship between the cost of this treatment and patients’ income and the impact of
this relationship on treatment compliance. Materials
and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim
covering sociodemographic data, average incomes, and direct and indirect
costs of treatment of 57 patients followed for POAG during the period from
January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016 (5 years). Results: The patients
were aged 25 to 77 years (mean = 54.4 years) with a male predominance (sex
ratio = 1.5). Retirees were the most represented (26.32%), followed by workers in the informal sector
(14.04%) and housewives (12.28%). Patients who had an annual income less
than or equal to 900,000 CFA francs (€1370.83) per year represented 56.14% and
those who did not have health coverage represented 57.89%. The treatment was
monotherapy (64.91%), dual therapy (31.58%) or triple therapy (3.05%) and the
average ratio of “annual cost of treatment to annual income” was 0.56 with for
maximum 2.23 and 0.02 as minimum. Patients who considered the cost of treatment
unbearable for their income represented 78.95%. Conclusion: Prevention
of blindness due to glaucoma requires early detection but also the
establishment of health coverage mechanisms to improve compliance with medical
treatment. In addition, consideration should be given to the development of
glaucoma surgery in our country, the indication of which could be the first
intention in certain patients, considering for those patients, the geographical
and financial accessibility of medical treatment.