Source of Funding for Open-Heart Surgery: A Retrospective Study of Patients in a Low Resource Setting

Abstract

Open heart surgery (OHS) offers lifesaving succor for patients with cardiovascular diseases, which is one of leading causes of disability-adjusted life years and death globally. The cost of OHS procedure remains a major hill that appears insurmountable. Although the direct charge of OHS in Nigeria in a 2013 report is $6200-11,200 in a country with per capita GDP of $2,097. Based on data retrieved from the OHS program of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital between 2014 and 2017, this observational retrospective study revealed the source of funding for OHS. Demographical data including age, gender and OHS sponsor were retrieved from medical records. Descriptive statistics were performed and data were presented as frequency distribution. Chi-square test was used to determine age and gender association with OHS sponsorship. A total of 26 patients cases including 14 males (53.8%) and 12 females (46.2%) with modal age of <20 years had OHS. Out of the total cases, church (26.9%), corporate company (23.1%), family (19.2%), non-governmental organization (11.5%), individual (3.8%), NHIS (3.8%) and State government (3.8%) funded the cost of OHS in this proportionate order. Statistically nonsignificant strong association was observed between age (χ = 21.3; Cramer's V value = 0.52; P value = 0.62) or gender (χ = 13.07; Cramer's V value = 0.71; P value = 0.11) of patient and source of funding for open heart surgery. Open heart surgery is slowly developing in Nigeria, and funding for OHS procedures are majorly provided by religious and corporate organizations.