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A costly modern-day double burden, the expenses of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming a devastating epidemic. The World Health Organization estimates $7 trillion in economic losses from NCDs in 2011-2025. Although regarded as affluent diseases, the burden of NCDs is shifting into poorer groups. In this study, we assessed the socioeconomic inequalities in catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment associated with NCDs in Northern Vietnam. We also identified associated factors for catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment. Households self-reporting NCD diagnoses had the highest association with both catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment, followed by those in urban areas. Such households were likely poorer according to our calculations estimating socioeconomic inequalities. Households with at least 1 member older than 60 years were also more likely to suffer catastrophic health expenditures. These findings suggest that targeted policy to prevent or subsidize care for NCDs could prevent catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment among those already most disadvantaged.

The Chi Linh Health and Demographic Surveillance System (CHILILAB HDSS) was established in 2004 in Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province (Northern Vietnam). Up to 2013, 22 rounds of data collection at CHILILAB HDSS had been completed. This article reports the methods and key sociodemographic characteristics of households and individuals captured by the survey conducted among the subsamples of CHILILAB HDSS in 2016. We observed and compared them to the previous HDSS survey rounds and found no significant differences for household size and gender compositions in CHILILAB HDSS. The educational level and economic status of CHILILAB people in 2016 have improved. However, it can be seen that the Chi Linh population is undergoing a strong "aging" trend.