Financial toxicity and the economic burden of Chagas disease: a scoping review.
6 affiliations
- 1Escola de Saúde Pública do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
- 2Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Enfermagem, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
- 3Universidade Federal do Ceará, Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
- 4Universidade Federal do Ceará, Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
- 5Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Enfermagem, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
- 6Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Enfermagem, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
Abstract
This scoping review mapped, synthesized, and critically analyzed the evidence on financial toxicity in Chagas disease, focusing on its determinants, impacts, and management strategies. Financial toxicity refers to the financial burden and distress experienced by individuals and their families as a result of healthcare expenses. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Comprehensive searches were conducted across seven electronic databases and the gray literature. Studies were selected and data extracted independently using the population-exposure-outcome framework, and 14 studies included. Most studies described indicators of the economic burden of Chagas disease rather than directly measuring patient-level financial toxicity. Substantial indirect costs were associated with absenteeism, productivity loss, and premature mortality, accounting for 44% to 75% of total costs. The findings also indicated that financial hardship may be intensified by structural vulnerabilities, including extreme poverty, lack of health insurance, and precarious migration status. Available evidence suggests that individuals affected by Chagas disease are at increased risk of healthcare-related financial hardship. However, studies directly assessing financial toxicity are scarce, with most relying on indirect economic indicators. This highlights an important gap in the literature and underscores the need for validated measures to evaluate financial toxicity in this population. Interventions that reduce financial barriers and strengthen access to healthcare services may help mitigate the economic consequences of Chagas disease. Future research should prioritize patient-centered assessments of financial toxicity to better inform policies and strategies aimed at reducing the financial burden associated with the disease.
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BibTeX
@article{costa2026financial,
title = {{Financial toxicity and the economic burden of Chagas disease: a scoping review.}},
author = {Douglas de Araújo Costa and Isaque Lima de Farias and Marcos Manoel Sousa Silva and Jhamyle de Oliveira Rodrigues and Kaylane Morais Ribeiro and Anny Karolyne Almeida Oliveira and Mariana Araújo Rios and Beatriz Amorim Beltrão and Paula Sacha Frota Nogueira and Luciana de Alcantara Nogueira},
journal = {Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1590/0037-8682-0233-2026},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42912084},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Financial toxicity and the economic burden of Chagas disease: a scoping review.
AU - Douglas de Araújo Costa
AU - Isaque Lima de Farias
AU - Marcos Manoel Sousa Silva
AU - Jhamyle de Oliveira Rodrigues
AU - Kaylane Morais Ribeiro
AU - Anny Karolyne Almeida Oliveira
AU - Mariana Araújo Rios
AU - Beatriz Amorim Beltrão
AU - Paula Sacha Frota Nogueira
AU - Luciana de Alcantara Nogueira
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
DO - 10.1590/0037-8682-0233-2026
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42912084
AB - This scoping review mapped, synthesized, and critically analyzed the evidence on financial toxicity in Chagas disease, focusing on its determinants, impacts, and management strategies. Financial toxicity refers to the financial burden and distress experienced by individuals and their families as a result of healthcare expenses. The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Comprehensive searches were conducted across seven electronic databases and the gray literature. Studies were selected and data extracted independently using the population-exposure-outcome framework, and 14 studies included. Most studies described indicators of the economic burden of Chagas disease rather than directly measuring patient-level financial toxicity. Substantial indirect costs were associated with absenteeism, productivity loss, and premature mortality, accounting for 44% to 75% of total costs. The findings also indicated that financial hardship may be intensified by structural vulnerabilities, including extreme poverty, lack of health insurance, and precarious migration status. Available evidence suggests that individuals affected by Chagas disease are at increased risk of healthcare-related financial hardship. However, studies directly assessing financial toxicity are scarce, with most relying on indirect economic indicators. This highlights an important gap in the literature and underscores the need for validated measures to evaluate financial toxicity in this population. Interventions that reduce financial barriers and strengthen access to healthcare services may help mitigate the economic consequences of Chagas disease. Future research should prioritize patient-centered assessments of financial toxicity to better inform policies and strategies aimed at reducing the financial burden associated with the disease.
SN - 0037-8682
SN - 1678-9849
ER -