Out-of-pocket expenditure and catastrophic health expenditure associated with non-communicable diseases among older adults in Rural Bankura district, West Bengal

This paper assesses the economic impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in terms of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and its catastrophic effect on households in Bankura district of West Bengal, India based on a population-based cross-sectional survey covering 465 persons aged 45 years and above. The study reveal that more than 69 per cent of the respondents suffered from multiple morbidities, while more than 23 per cent had single morbidity. A higher burden of OOPE was observed in households having individuals aged at least 60 years who were suffering from one or more NCDs. The mean monthly healthcare cost per elderly individual was the highest among the poorest and the richest households. The OOPE in upper castes households was significantly higher than that in lower castes households. Predicted probabilities indicate that the likelihood of incurring catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) was higher among individuals aged at least 75 years compared to those aged 45–54 years. The paper highlights the need to implement prevention strategies to reduce the economic burden of NCDs.