Methodological Approaches to Assessing the Economic Damage Associated with the Incidence of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop methodological approaches to assessing the economic damage associated with the incidence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and to calculate the economic damage by the example of an outbreak of HFRS in the Saratov region in 2019. Materials and methods. The paper analyzes the economic indicators of the Federal State Statistics Service; data on the incidence of HFRS in the Russian Federation for the period of 2019–2022. To calculate the cost of outpatient and inpatient medical care, as well as the costs associated with the medical follow-up of convalescents, the indicators of the Program of state guarantees of free provision of medical care to citizens for 2022 and for the scheduled period of 2023 and 2024 were used. The calculation of economic losses associated with the payment of temporary disability benefits was carried out according to the equation provided in the Federal Law No. 255-FZ dated December 29, 2006 (as amended on October 07, 2022). Economic losses associated with premature death at an economically active age were calculated based on the value of unproduced GDP due to lost years of life in the corresponding age group. Results and discussion. The costs of treatment, rehabilitation and payment of temporary disability benefits for 1 case of HFRS at the age of 0 to 56.5 years for the female population and from 0 to 61.5 years for the male population amount to 140 495 rubles; over the age of 56.5 years for the female population and 61.5 years for the male population – 95 412 rubles, respectively. Each fatal case of HFRS aged 0 to 16 years among the male population costs the state 38 976 231 rubles; among the female population – 34 708 331 rubles; in active working age – the value of economic damage varies depending on the age of the person who died of HFRS. The economic damage of the outbreak of HFRS in the Saratov Region (2019), taking into account the direct expenditures of the healthcare system and indirect losses of the country’s economy amounted to 441 453 432 rubles. It is of note that the structure of the main damage is dominated by indirect losses in the economy caused by the premature death of people in economically active age.