The costs of limited health literacy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To summarize evidence about (1) the costs of limited health literacy (HL) and (2) the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve limited HL. METHODS: We performed a systematic review searching electronic databases and additional information resources. We included observational studies and interventional studies with HL-outcomes. We included populations at high risk for low HL and patients with (1) diabetes mellitus or (2) hyperlipidemia. RESULTS: We retrieved 2,340 papers and included 10 studies for analysis. The prevalence of limited HL is considerable (range 34–59%). On the health system level, the additional costs of limited HL range from 3 to 5% of the total health care cost per year. On the patient level, the additional expenditures per year per person with limited HL compared to persons with adequate HL range from US $143 to 7,798. Data on the cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve limited HL are scarce. CONCLUSION: The costs of limited HL may be substantial, but few studies were retrieved and the results are heterogeneous.