[Economic impact of hemophilia type A and B in Mexico].

Background: The treatment of hemophilia generates a disproportionally large economic impact relative to its prevalence.

Objective: To determine the economic impact of hemophilia A and B in Mexico in 2011 from the perspective of public health institutions.

Methods: Hemophilia was epidemiologically characterized in Mexico during the year of interest, direct costs (diagnosis, monitoring or follow-up, care of bleeding events, and consumption of hemostatic factors), as well as absenteeism associated with illness (indirect costs) were estimated. Records, surveys and official data were supplemented by expert opinion to assess costs.

Results: The investment in hemostatic factors is the primary source of cost: 68.6 and 74.3% of total investment in hemophilia A and B, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the most decisive variable is the cost of acquisition of hemostatic factors, including bypass agents. The second most important source of cost is the attention to bleeding events, being significantly higher in patients receiving on-demand treatment compared with those receiving prophylaxis.

Conclusion: In Mexico, hemophilia is a condition whose treatment requires a large amount of financial resources associated with the cost of hemostatic factors and care of hemorrhage, the latter being lower in patients on prophylaxis relative to on-demand.