The Hospitalization Costs of Diabetes and Hypertension Complications in Zimbabwe: Estimations and Correlations
Table 1
Descriptive statistics of T2DM and HTN patients admitted to Harare Central Hospital.
Characteristics
T2DM ()
HTN ()
All patients ()
Age (mean ± SD)
52.8 ± 20.1
59.9 ± 19.6
58.6 ± 19.8
<65 years (%)
44 (68.8)
142 (50.7)
186 (54.1)
65+ years (%)
20 (31.3)
138 (49.3)
158 (45.9)
Male (%)
23 (35.9)
102 (36.4)
125 (36.3)
Married (%)
36 (56.3)
168 (60.0)
204 (59.3)
Dependents (median, IQR)
2 (0–3)
1 (0–2)
1 (0–2)
Employed (%)
16 (25.0)
27 (9.6)
43 (12.5)
Low income urban residence (%)
58 (90.6)
254 (90.7)
312 (90.7)
Family history (yes, %)
6 (9.4)
6 (2.3)
12 (3.7)
Smoking (yes, %)
5 (7.8)
5 (1.8)
10 (2.9)
Alcohol (yes, %)
5 (7.8)
15 (5.4)
20 (5.8)
Blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg
19 (29.7)
104 (37.1)
123 (35.8)
Prescribed therapies
Monotherapy
4 (6.3)
7 (2.5)
11 (3.2)
Double therapy
3 (4.7)
34 (12.2)
37 (10.8)
3+ prescribed drugs
57 (89.0)
237 (85.3)
294 (85.5)
Comorbidity
No comorbidity (%)
30 (46.9)
158 (56.4)
188 (54.7)
1 comorbidity (%)
30 (46.9)
101 (36.1)
131 (38.1)
2+ comorbidities (%)
4 (6.3)
21 (7.5)
25 (7.3)
Complications
1 complication
56 (87.5)
235 (83.9)
287 (84.6)
2+ complications
8 (12.5)
45 (16.1)
53 (15.4)
Length of stay days
Median (IQR)
7 (3–12)
6 (3.5–10)
6 (3–10)
In-hospital mortality (%)
24 (37.5)
91 (32.5)
115 (33.4)
Hospitalization costs (USD)
Average cost per admission (95% CI)
1319 (981–1657)
914 (825–1003)
990 (893–1087)
(minimum–maximum)
(121–7153)
(113–6606)
(113–7153)
Median cost per admission (IQR)
994 (385–1553)
759 (494–1147)
780 (483–1179)
Total patients < 65 years costs
48,627
141,267
189,894
Total social security cost
20,904
129,675
150,579
Payment method
Out-of-pocket cash
19 (29.7)
140 (50)
158 (45.9)
State paying (social security scheme)
43 (67.2)
139 (49.6)
183 (53.2)
Medical insurance
2 (3.1)
1 (0.4)
3 (0.9)
Costs from patient perspective; IQR, interquartile range; SD, standard deviation; costs in USD, United States dollars; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CCF, congestive cardiac failure; CVA, cerebrovascular accident. Social security exempts payment for patients 65+ years and patients with epilepsy and mental illness.
