Estimating the Economic Burden of COVID-19: Findings from Southern Iran

COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease that poses a significant threat to public health. Recognizing the impact and costs associated with this disease can assist policymakers in making informed decisions about the allocation of resources. Therefore, this study estimated the economic burden of COVID-19 from a societal perspective, focusing on patients admitted to the referral hospital for this disease in southern Iran in 2022.

This descriptive and analytical study employed a random sampling method to select patients admitted to hospitals affiliated with Jiroft University of Medical Sciences in southern Kerman, Iran. The sampling period spanned from March 2020 to February 2021. In total, 450 patients were included in this study. A researcher-made checklist was used as the data collection tool. The data were then analyzed using a t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The analysis was performed using SPSS23, with the significance level set at 0.05.

The study estimated the total direct cost, total indirect cost, total cost of the studied patients, and the economic burden of COVID-19 disease as 600,211.89, 193,667.28, 793,879.17, and 4,186,389.48 dollars, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was found between length of stay (r=0.858, p<0.001), type of insurance (F=2.853, P=0.023), and total direct cost.

Based on these results, it is evident that COVID-19 has imposed a substantial economic burden. The study findings emphasize the need for decision-makers to take measures and implement effective interventions to address COVID-19. This can be achieved by controlling risk factors, drawing upon successful experiences from other countries, and following recommendations provided by international organizations. By reducing the number of infections, the economic burden associated with the disease can be alleviated.