ORIGINAL RESEARCH Catastrophic Health Expenditure among Chronic Patients Attending Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia This article was published in the following Dove Press journal: ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research Yohannes Shumet 1 Solomon Ahmed Mohammed 2 Mesfn Haile Kahissay 2 Birhanu Demeke 2 1 Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 2 Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia Background: Catastrophic health expenditure is health spending that is not covered by a health-care plan. These costs tend to escalate over time, due to chronic illnesses. Catastrophic health expenditure leads to decreased use of health services and poorer treatment outcomes. This study measured the extent of and factors associated with catastrophic health expenditure among chronically ill patients attending Dessie Referral Hospital in northeast Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was used to quantify cata- strophic health expenditure among 302 chronically ill patients from May 25, 2018 to June 30, 2018. A stratifed sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using SPSS 20. Results: Catastrophic health expenditure was found in 194 (64.2%, 95% CI 58.8%–70.5%) of chronic patients. Costly service (151, 50%), transport (104, 34.4%), and pharmaceuticals (189, 62.6%) were the reasons for catastrophic health expenditure among chronic patients. Factors associated with catastrophic health expenditure were age <30 years (AOR 7.74, CI 0.94–63.62; P=0.01), patient monthly income <Br1,068 (AOR 203.47, CI 34.72–41.70; P=0), being single (, AOR 0.2, CI 0.02–1.4; P=0.04), familymonthly income <Br1,068 (AOR 0.02, CI 0–0.47; P=0), laboratory examinations (, AOR 1.54, CI 0.23–10.41; P=0.04), and transport, food, and lodging (AOR 0.05, CI 0.00–0.52; P=0.01). Conclusion: Two-thirds of chronic patients had catastrophic health expenditure. Starting and strengthening various health-insurance schemes will make chronic-care services more accessible and affordable. Keywords: chronic illness, out-of-pocket, health expenditure Background Catastrophic health expenditure is health spending that is not covered by a health- care plan, neither private health insurance nor a public health scheme. 1 If the fnancing of health care becomes more dependent on out-of-pocket payments, the burden imposed on those who use the services regularly is higher. 2 The proportion of households facing catastrophic health expenditure varies widely among countries. 3 One in six American families with disabled or elderly members experience high out-of-pocket health-care spending. These costs tend to escalate over time, due to chronic illnesses. For low-income families, 25% ospend >5% of their total household income on medical care services. 2 The proportion of Turkish households with catastrophic health expenditure was 0.6%, and average out-of-pocket health payments were US$7.36. 4 Correspondence: Solomon Ahmed Mohammed Tel +251-91-050-4378 Email ahmedsolomon21@gmail.com submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research 2021:13 99–107 99 http://doi.org/10.2147/CEOR.S291463 DovePress © 2021 Shumet et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms. php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research Dovepress open access to scientific and medical research Open Access Full Text Article ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research downloaded from https://www.dovepress.com/ by 207.241.225.159 on 04-Feb-2021 For personal use only. 1 / 1