Catastrophic health expenditures: analysis of the association with socioeconomic conditions in Minas Gerais, Brazil

This study aimed to assess catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) and its association with socioeconomic conditions in 2009, 2011 and 2013 in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with data from the Household Sample Survey. The dependent variable was the CHE in each year of the survey. Expenditures that exceeded 10% and 25% of household income were considered catastrophic. The association between catastrophic health expenditure and independent variables was tested by the Poisson regression. The prevalence of CHE ranged from 9.0% to 11.3% and 18.9% to 24.4% within the limits of 10% and 25%, and 2011 recorded the lowest values. The largest proportion of health expenditure (94%) was related to the acquisition of medicines. The prevalence of CHE was lower among those responsible for the household with 12 or more years of study than those with no formal education. Households with a higher wealth score had, in both limits, lower prevalence of CHE than those of the first quintile. We concluded that health expenditures significantly affected the budget of households in Minas Gerais and the purchase of medicines was the main component of spending. The findings reinforce the role of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) in minimizing CHE and reducing socioeconomic inequalities.