Multimorbidity and out-of-pocket expenditure on medicine in Europe: Longitudinal analysis of 13 European countries between 2013 and 2015
Journal
Frontiers in Public Health
Journal Volume
10
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Many European Health Systems are implementing or increasing levels of cost-sharing for medicine in response to the growing constrains on public spending on health despite their negative impact on population health due to delay in seeking care. Objective: This study aims to examine the relationships between multimorbidity (two or more coexisting chronic diseases, CDs), complex multimorbidity (three or more CDs impacting at least three different body systems), and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for medicine across European nations. Methods: = 51,237). Pooled cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs were used, as well as a two-part model, to analyse the association between multimorbidity and OOPE for medicine. Results: 33.7). In stratified analyses for country-specific quartiles of household income the average incremental OOPE for medicine was not significantly different across groups. Conclusion: Between 2013 and 2015 in 13 European Health Systems increased prevalence of CDs was associated with greater likelihood of having OOPE on medication and an increase in the average amount spent when one occurred. Monitoring this indicator is important considering the negative association with treatment adherence and subsequent effects on health.
SDGs
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.
Type
journal article