Tratamento do sangramento uterino anormal: uma análise sob a perspectiva dos custos no sistema único de saúde e da medicina suplementar

Abstract

Objectives: To compare direct and indirect costs of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), thermal balloon endometrial ablation (TBEA) and hysterectomy in the treatment of women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Methods: 88 patients treated for AUB by LNG-IUS (n = 30), TBEA (n = 28) and hysterectomy (n = 30) were retrospectively evaluated. All procedures, medical appointments and tests involved in the treatment of patients were considered for a period of five years, as well as all costs arising from failures of the treatments used. The costs for the Unified Health System (SUS) and the private health care system were estimated. Differences between groups were evaluated by the test t of Student or ANOVA. Results: The cost of the treatment of AUB with TBEA was significantly higher versus LNG-IUS and hysterectomy after a five-year follow-up in both SUS and private health care system (p<0.001). In SUS, the treatment with the LNG-IUS represented 38.2% of the hysterectomy cost in the first year (R$ 769.61 vs. R$ 2,012.21, p <0.001) and 45.2% after five years (R$ 927.83 vs. R$ 2,052.21, p <0.001). As for the private health care system, this difference was even more significant. In this context, the cost of LNG-IUS represented 29.1% of the hysterectomy cost in the first year (R$ 1,551.92 vs. R$ 5,324.74, p <0.001) and 37.4% after five years (R$ 2,069.35 vs. R$ 5,538.74, p <0.001). Conclusions: The use of LNG-IUS results in lower direct and indirect costs versus TBEA and hysterectomy in the treatment of women with AUB. The cost-effectiveness of LNG-IUS, together with the reversibility and also by this being an outpatient procedure, highlights its role in the treatment of women with AUB, both in SUS perspective as in private health care system’s.