Table 2 Descriptive and comparative analysis of sociodemographic characteristics and diseases regarding the type of case
From: Administrative cases: an effective alternative to lawsuits in assuring access to medicines?
| Variables |
Total (n = 969) |
Lawsuits (n = 511) |
Administratives cases (n = 458) | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | ||||
| Mean (SD)1 | 44.2 + 24.6 | 42.8 + 24.7 | 45.7 + 24.4 | 0.0983 |
| Median (IQR)2 | 50.0 (23.0–64.0) | 43.0 (20.0–64.0) | 52.0 (26.0–64.3) | |
| Plaintiffs’ monthly income (US$) | ||||
| Mean (SD)1 | 949.18 + 754.47 | 1058.70 + 827.49 | 815.32+ 632.78 | < 0.0013 |
| Median (IQR)2 | 717.97 (498.93–1046.53) | 778.81 (551.10–1131.71) | 644.95 (438.08–851.83) | |
| Cost of Medicines(US$) | ||||
| Mean (SD)1 | 426.53+ 902.77 | 353.93+ 1036.91 | 507.56+ 716.87 | < 0.0013 |
| Median (IQR)2 | 122.88 (35.03–455.50) | 96.92 (34.34–285.99) | 205.94 (40.06–670.56) | |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 535 (55.2) | 292 (57.1) | 243 (53.1) | 0.2024 |
| Female | 434 (44.8) | 219 (42.9) | 215 (46.9) | |
| Prescription’s Origin | ||||
| Prescribed by a SUS clinician | 322 (49.1) | 77 (28.2) | 245 (64.0) | < 0.0014 |
| Prescribed by a private system clinician | 334 (50.9) | 196 (71.8) | 138 (36.0) | |
| Amount of medication(s) | ||||
| Mean (SD)1 | 2.4 + 2.0 | 2.9 + 2.4 | 1.8 + 1.0 | < 0.0013 |
| Median (IQR)2 | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | 2.0 (1.0–4.0) | 2.0 (1.0–2.0) | |
| Diseases6 | ||||
| Certain infectious and parasitic diseases | 9 (0.9) | 5 (1.0) | 4 (0.9) | 1.0005 |
| Neoplasms | 13 (1.3) | 7 (1.4) | 6 (1.3) | 0.9364 |
| Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism | 19 (2.0) | 4 (0.8) | 15 (3.3) | 0.0054 |
| Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases | 235 (24.3) | 71 (13.9) | 164 (35.8) | < 0.0014 |
| Mental and behavioural disorders | 82 (8.5) | 77 (15.1) | 5 (1.1) | < 0.0014 |
| Diseases of the nervous system | 167 (17.2) | 84 (16.4) | 83 (18.1) | 0.4884 |
| Diseases of the eye and adnexa | 40 (4.1) | 17 (3.3) | 23 (5.0) | 0.1884 |
| Diseases of the ear and mastoid process | 4 (0.4) | – | 4 (0.9) | 0.0405 |
| Diseases of the circulatory system | 170 (17.5) | 109 (21.3) | 61 (13.3) | 0.0014 |
| Diseases of the respiratory system | 44 (4.5) | 17 (3.3) | 27 (5.9) | 0.0554 |
| Diseases of the digestive system | 62 (6.4) | 27 (5.3) | 35 (7.6) | 0.1344 |
| Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | 2 (0.2) | – | 2 (0.4) | 0.2235 |
| Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 75 (7.7) | 28 (5.5) | 47 (10.3) | 0.0054 |
| Diseases of the genitourinary system | 156 (16.1) | 139 (27.2) | 17 (3.7) | < 0.0014 |
| Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period | 1 (0.1) | – | 1 (0.2) | 0.4735 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities | 1 (0.1) | – | 1 (0.2) | 0.4735 |
| Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes | 2 (0.2) | – | 2 (0.4) | 0.2235 |
| External causes of morbidity and mortality | 1 (0.1) | – | 1 (0.2) | 0.4735 |