Investigating the economic burden of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Uzbekistan

Economic Annals-XXI: Volume 213, Issue (1-2), Pages: 30-35

Citation information
Usmankhodjaeva, S., Mukhtorova, Sh., Jumma, K., Mirrakhimova, M., Akhtamova, N., & Toshboev, B. (2025). Investigating the economic burden of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Uzbekistan. Economic Annals-XXI, 213(1-2), 30-35. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V213-03

Surayyo Usmankhodjaeva
PhD (Marketing),
Assistant,
Management and Marketing Department,
Tashkent University of Information Technology
108 Amir Temur Str., Tashkent, 100200, Uzbekistan
usman.surayyo@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9333-6422

Shokhida Mukhtorova
MA (Health),
Assistant,
Department of Infectious Diseases and Infectious Diseases of Children,
Bukhara State Medical Institute
QCCF+9GF, Djalol Ikromi Str., Bukhara, Bukhara Region, 200118, Uzbekistan
muxtorova.shohida@bsmi.uz
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2276-1089

Kassem Jumma
MA (Industrial Engineering),
College of Technical Engineering,
The Islamic University;
College of Technical Engineering,
The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah;
College of Technical Engineering,
The Islamic University of Babylon
Hilla, Babylon, 51002, Iraq
kassem.jumma@iunajaf.edu.iq
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1849-3827

Maktuba Mirrakhimova
D.Sc. (Health),
Associate Professor of the Department of Children Diseases, Pediatrics,
Tashkent State Medical University
2 Farabi Str., Tashkent, 100109, Uzbekistan
mmh.20@mail.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2802-4357

Nilufar Akhtamova
PhD (Philosophy),
Assistant,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology N 1,
Samarkand State Medical University
18 Amir Temur Str., Samarkand, 140100, Uzbekistan
nilufar1992@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9425-9870

Bekzod Toshboev
PhD (Management),
Gulistan State University
GQ3M+QMH, Gagarin Str., Gulistan, Sirdaryo Region, 120100, Uzbekistan
bek.gdu@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5995-454X

Investigating the economic burden of hospitalized Covid-19 patients in Uzbekistan

Abstract. This study aimed to study the economic cost of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Uzbekistan hospitals holistically. In a retrospective cross-sectional-analytic study, 1,428 patients’ data were retrieved from 15 selected hospitals’ medical and financial records in 2021-2022 using a sociodemographic costing approach (direct medical, non-medical, and indirect costs). Results showed that the mean per-episode total cost of hospitalization was USD 5,021, of which 47% was related to indirect costs (mainly lost patient and caregiver productivity). The largest determinant of cost was severity of illness, with severe/critical illness (USD 8,473) being roughly 4 times that of mild illness (USD 2,187) and 3.9 times that of moderate illness (USD 3,956). Specially treated drugs (25.6% of direct costs) and critical care interventions (36.7% of direct costs) were the leading components of direct costs. Multivariate regression analysis found the strongest predictors of costs to be admission to ICU (β=4.892), mechanical ventilation (β=3.785), and length of stay (an additional USD 387 per day). The significant cost difference between private (USD 6,842) and public (USD 4,217) sector, as well as between regions (32.7% higher in Tashkent), are the key policy implications of this study. The implications suggest the need for designing targeted financial support schemes for high-risk individuals and resource optimization within the Uzbek health system.

Keywords: Economic Burden; Patient; Medicine; Illness; COVID-19; Hospital; Medical Treatment; Hospital Costs; Uzbekistan; Critical Care; Health Care; Health System

JEL Classifications: Е24; Е41; Е64; I18; J28; J31

Acknowledgements and Funding: The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Contribution: The authors contributed equally to this work.

Data Availability Statement: The dataset is available from the authors upon request.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V213-03

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Received 29.09.2024
Received in revised form 21.10.2024
Accepted 6.11.2024
Available online 26.02.2025