02140nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260002400042653005700066653002900123653002000152100001500172700001500187700001400202700001200216700001500228700001400243245014300257856006100400490000700461520141700468022002501885       2020                            d  bFapUNIFESP (SciELO)10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aLeishmaniasis, Cutaneous10aEconomic impact1 aGalvão EL1 aAssis TSMD1 aPedras MJ1 aCota GF1 aSimões TC1 aRabello A00aEconomic impact of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis on adult patients of a referral service in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil  uhttps://www.scielosp.org/pdf/csp/2020.v36n7/e00136419/en0 v363 a<jats:p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disease associated with low-income populations. Thus, in assessing the burden of this disease, it is important to include its economic impact on individuals. We aimed to evaluate CL economic impact on patients treated at a referral service in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study based on the analysis of interviews and medical records from which we assembled direct medical and non-medical costs related to CL, from a societal perspective. One hundred patients were included; 50% had a monthly per capita income of up to USD 259.60 and spent on average USD 187.32 with the disease, representing an average monthly impact of 22.5% (USD 133.80). The disease imposed direct medical costs, such as: private medical appointments, medications, medical exams, dressing material, and co-participation in health insurances. Direct non-medical costs were mainly related to patients’ transportation to health centers (USD 4,911.00), but also included medically-necessary care, food, and domestic and business outsourcing services. Although the Brazilian public health system guarantees access to health care, CL still represents a substantial economic impact for patients. The main action to reduce the expenses with this disease is decentralizing services for CL diagnosis and therapeutic approach, as well as increasing their efficiency.</jats:p>  a1678-4464, 0102-311X