Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2018; 111(1): 37-38
Economic Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases in Brazil: Are Telemedicine and Structured Telephone Support the Solution?
DOI: 10.5935/abc.20180136
This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "The Economic Burden of Heart Conditions in Brazil".
The study by Stevens et al. results from a project of Delloite Consulting, financed by Novartis and aimed at estimating the economic burden that heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) impose on Latin American countries, and at assessing the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine and structured telephone support as interventions that can relieve it. The publication in this issue of the Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia focused on presenting the results of the assessment in the Brazilian scenario.
This study provided us with the opportunity to reflect on important questions related to quality, interpretation and applicability of economic studies. Such studies have gained increasing relevance in the incorporation/disincorporation of technologies and the development of health policies and programs to improve healthcare quality. In addition, they are often used in other countries to support decision-making processes, although that is not a routine in Brazil.
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