Cost of care among older people with chronic medical conditions in a healthcare facility in southwestern Nigeria

The global population of older individuals is rapidly increasing, a trend attributed to medical advances and increased life expectancy. This demographic shift has led to a higher prevalence of chronic conditions, placing significant pressure on healthcare systems and escalating costs. Our research aims to shed light on this pressing issue, providing crucial insights into the economic implications of geriatric care. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the cost of care and its factors among older adults with chronic diseases in a secondary health facility in southwestern Nigeria, providing crucial insights into the economic implications of geriatric care. A rigorous, simple random sampling technique was employed to recruit 300 older people diagnosed with chronic disease who have been on follow-up care for more than 6 months. A structured questionnaire was meticulously administered to the participants between July and December 2020. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis, ensuring the robustness of our findings. To determine the difference in the average cost, t-tests and analysis of variance were employed, and p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. The mean age (standard deviation) in this study was 68.26 (7.01) years; 58.3% of participants were female. The total cost of care ranges from 2296 Nigerian Naira (₦) [6.4 U.S. dollars ($)] to 100,651 ₦ (280 $), with an average of 22,589.06 ₦ (63 $). Participants receiving pensions and those receiving very low income had higher costs. Compared with those without diabetes and those with one condition, diabetic participants and those with multimorbidity had twice as high a cost of care. Our findings underscore the importance of economic support, such as pensions and stipends, for older people in improving access to timely care, preventing complications, and ultimately lowering healthcare costs. The recommendation for regular screening for diabetes and other chronic conditions provides a practical strategy for improving diagnosis and timely interventions, empowering healthcare professionals and policymakers to make a tangible difference in geriatric care.