factors affecting

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer among Iranian women. The cost of breast cancer treatment is high, and many families struggle to afford it.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure and factors affecting it in BC patients in Shahid Jalil Hospital affiliated to Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

This study was conducted in a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical way. Based on the inclusion criteria, the health expenditure of 82 patients with BC were collected. The data was gathered from Shahid Jalil Hospital, affiliated with Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. It includes inpatient and outpatient information from the Iran Health Insurance Organization, as well as patient-declared costs in 2022. The study data analyzed using descriptive statistics methods including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, and stepwise linear regression to investigate the effect of variables on the amount of OOP health expenditure in SPSS 21 software.

The OOP expenses for BC patients accounted for 32.89% of the total direct medical expenses. Of the OOP costs, 47.18% were attributed to drug expenses, 16.19% to laboratory costs, 11.74% to imaging expenses, 11.20% to visit costs, 8.40% to hospitalization expenses, 2.84% to doctor’s services, and 2.45% to physical therapy-related expenses. Factors such as age, place of residence, occupation, education, and household income were among the factors that had a significant effect on OOP payments (P < 0.05). Marital status, housing situation, and social coverage had no significant effect on patients' OOP payments (P > 0.05).

BC patients incur a lot of expenses, and about 32.89% of these expenses are OOP payments. It is essential for insurance organizations to increase their coverage, while also requiring additional support from the government for patients with breast cancer in obtaining necessary medication and medical supplies.

Many factors are involved in the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals in each region, such as physiological conditions, underlying diseases, and observance of personal protection and hygiene; therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors affecting the incidence of COVID-19 in Bandar Lengeh, Hormozgan province, southern Iran.

Blood samples and demographic information were collected from suspected COVID-19 patients referring to Shahid Rajaei governmental health centers in Bandar Lengeh city. Hematological, biochemical, and serological tests were performed on the samples. PCR experiment was conducted to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection. The thorax computed tomography (CT) was performed for all patients.  

According to the PCR test results, the prevalence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 26.92% among 130 individuals enrolled in this study. SARS-CoV-2 infection was more prevalent among clerks than in other occupational groups (p=0.017). Increased ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and decreased WBC (white blood cell), lymphocyte, and platelet counts were evident in COVID-19 patients. Also, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection was higher in patients with blood group A (33.3%) than in patients with other blood groups. The CRP (C-reactive protein) test was positive for 31 patients whose PCR test was positive for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) level was higher in infected individuals compared to other participants (p=0.018).   

In addition to the PCR test result, the most effective factors for diagnosing COVID-19 patients best on blood tests were as follows: increased CRP, ESR, and LDH levels and decreased WBC, lymphocyte, and platelet counts.