Catastrophic Health Expenditure among Iranian Households: Evidence from the COVID-19 Era

↑What is "already known" in this topic: Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) represents a substantial financial burden on the health system.However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the prevalence and intensity of CHE during the COVID-19 pandemic among Iranian households.This study aims to address this knowledge gap and provide valuable insights for health policymakers and managers in the Iranian health system, helping them develop strategies to alleviate the economic impact of healthcare services on households. →What this article adds:The average out-of-pocket (OOP) health payments increased in 2021 compared to 2020, and households faced higher CHE in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the first year across rural and urban areas, as well as at the national level.The situation was worse for rural households.Overall, to expand health equity, Iran's health system needs comprehensive measures in different areas, with a particular focus on economically disadvantaged populations.