#1379 Direct medical cost of hospital care for leptospirosis among adult filipinos in the Philippine General Hospital

Abstract Background and Aims Leptospirosis is an acute febrile illness caused by pathogenic Leptospira species widely distributed geographically. The Philippines experiences an average of 680 cases and 40 leptospirosis-related deaths annually, but the trend has been increasing over the past years. Antibiotic therapy remains to be the cornerstone of treating leptospirosis, however, severe manifestations of the disease require specialized interventions such as renal replacement therapy and respiratory ventilation. The treatment of leptospirosis has an economic impact that extends beyond direct medical costs to include indirect costs such as lost productivity and income, thus highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between treatment and economic burden. There is limited information on the economic burden of leptospirosis in the Philippines. Costing studies guide policymakers to formulate evidence-based health interventions, allocate resources efficiently, and prioritize preventive measures. This study represents the latest research endeavor on the direct medical expenses incurred by healthcare providers for managing leptospirosis patients in hospitals. Method A cross sectional descriptive study design was used, with data taken from Filipino adults admitted for leptospirosis in the Philippine General Hospital from March 2020 to December 2023. Results There were 200 included patients with a mean age of 39.9 ± 13.1 years, in which 92% were males and 71.5% had no comorbidity. Majority of the patients (61.5%) presented with Weil's syndrome and 62% received hemodialysis. The mean length of stay was 6.9 ± 3.8 days. 70.5% were discharged while 26.5% died from complications of leptospirosis. The average cost per patient was 100,781.83 PHP (1,654.53 EUR) in 2020; 63,345.48 PHP (1,039.94 EUR) in 2021; 59,464.59 PHP (976.23 EUR) in 2022; and 71,053.71 PHP (1,166.49 EUR) in 2023. The highest cost was from diagnostics, followed by medications (including antibiotics), and then logistical costs. Conclusion The cost of hospital admission and treatment for leptospirosis is financially debilitating for minimum wage Filipino workers because it can cost up to 20% of their annual income.