P179 - HOME-BASED ENTERAL NUTRITION IN SETÚBAL (PORTUGAL): A LONGITUDINAL AND PROJECTED COST ANALYSIS (2020–2029)

P179

HOME-BASED ENTERAL NUTRITION IN SETÚBAL (PORTUGAL): A LONGITUDINAL AND PROJECTED COST ANALYSIS (2020–2029)

N. Nunes^1,*, A. Coelho^2,3, C. Candeias⁴

¹Nutrition, Unidade Local de Saúde Arrábida, Setúbal, ²Nursing, Évora University, Évora, ³Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Lisboa, ⁴Pharmacy, Unidade Local de Saúde Arrábida, Setúbal, Portugal

Rationale: The growing demand for home enteral nutrition (HEN) reflects improved patient quality of life and the shift toward more sustainable healthcare models. With increasing pressure on healthcare budgets, cost-effectiveness and scalability of home-based nutritional care are key areas of interest. This study focuses on HEN consumption's evolution and projected trends and associated costs in Portugal.

Methods: This observational study evaluates HEN data over 5 years (2020–2024), using consumption and cost data collected from a National Health Service Hospital. A 5-year forecast (2025–2029) was also developed using linear regression models to estimate future consumption volume and cost trends.

Results: Between 2020 and 2024, home enteral nutrition (HEN) consumption experienced a significant increase of approximately 80%, accompanied by a 76% rise in associated costs. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over this period was 15.8% for consumption and 15.1% for costs, reflecting a steady and proportional expansion of service utilization and expenditure.

Looking ahead, projections for the 2025–2029 period indicate a continued upward trend, though at a more moderate pace. Consumption is expected to grow by 37%, and costs by 39%, corresponding to average annual growth rates of 8.3% and 8.6%, respectively.

Notably, the projected average cost per unit of consumption remains stable at approximately €2.46, suggesting improved efficiency and cost containment in the delivery of HEN services over time.

Conclusion: Home enteral nutrition services in Setúbal (Portugal) have expanded significantly in recent years. While both consumption and costs have increased, the growth appears to stabilize. Forecasts suggest sustainable long-term trends with consistent unit costs and manageable overall expenditures, reinforcing the viability of home-based nutritional support.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared