Analysis of diagnostic procedure costs for cerebrovascular disease admission to a highly specialized hospital

Costs of stroke using patient-level data: a critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

With decision-analytic models becoming more popular to assess the cost-effectiveness of health care interventions, the need for robust estimates on the costs of cerebrovascular disease is paramount. This study reports the results from a literature review of the costs of cerebrovascular diseases, and assesses the quality of the published evidence against a set of defined criteria.

METHODS

A broad literature search was conducted. Those studies reporting mean/median costs of cerebrovascular diseases derived from patient-level data in a developed country setting were included. Data were abstracted using standardized reporting forms and assessed against 4 predefined criteria: use of adequate methodologies, use of a population-based study, inclusion of premorbid resource use, and reporting of costs by different patient subgroups.

RESULTS

A total of 120 cost studies were identified. The cost estimates of stroke were compared by taking into account the effects of inflation and price differentials between countries. Average costs of stroke ranged from $468 to $146 149. Differences in costs were also found within country, with estimates in the USA varying 20-fold. Although the costing methodologies used were generally appropriate, only 5 studies were based on population-based studies, which are the gold standard study design when comparing incidence, outcome, and costs.

CONCLUSIONS

This review showed large variations in the costs of stroke, mainly attributable to differences in the populations studied, methods, and cost categories included. The wide range of cost estimates could lead to selection bias in secondary health economic analyses, with authors including those costs that are more likely to produce the desired results.

Analysis of hospital charges for ischemic stroke in Fukuoka, Japan

OBJECTIVES

Stroke is a heavy economic burden on individuals, society, and health services in Japan, where health expenditures are rising rapidly. The objective of the present study was to examine medical services and demographic factors associated with increased inpatient charges for ischemic stroke in Japan.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study subjects were 316 patients with a principal diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke who were discharged from the National Kyushu Medical Center Hospital from 1 July 1995 through 31 June 1999. Demographic, clinical, and administrative data were retrospectively collected from medical records and the hospital Clinical Financial Information System (CFIS). The influence of social and medical factors on total charges was analyzed using the stepwise multiple regression model.

RESULTS

Among the total subjects, the mean (median) length of hospital stay (LOHS) was 33 (30) days (range, 2-155 days). The mean (median) hospital charge per patient was US dollars 9020 (dollars 7974) with a range of dollars 336-54,509. The distribution of charges was 42% for fundamental, 17% for injection therapies, 13% for radiological test, 11% for other laboratory examinations, 3% for drugs, and 3% for operations. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that LOHS was the key determinant of the hospital charge (partial R2=0.5993, P=0.0001). Operations (P=0.0001) and angiography (P=0.03) were also independent but less contributory determinants of the hospital charge.

CONCLUSIONS

LOHS was strongly, positively associated with inpatient charges for ischemic stroke in Japan. This implies that significant charge reductions are more likely to rely on shortening LOHS, which probably can be achieved by altering reimbursement policies.

Predicting the cost of hospital stay for stroke patients: the use of diagnosis related groups

In order to provide tailor-made care, governments are considering the implementation of output-pricing based on hospital case-mix measures, such as diagnosis related groups (DRG). The question is whether the current DRG classification system can provide a satisfactory prediction of the variance of costs in stroke patients and if not, in what way other variables may enhance this prediction. In this study, data from 731 stroke patients hospitalized at University Hospital Maastricht during 1996-1998 are used in the cost analysis. The DRG classification for this group uses information--in addition to the DRG classification operation or no operation--on the patient's age combined with discharge status. The results of regression analysis show that using DRGs, the variance explained in the costs amounts to 34%. Adding other variables to the DRGs, the variance explained increases to about 61%. Additional factors highly correlating with inpatient costs are the level of functioning after stroke, comorbidity, complications, and 'days of stay for non-medical reasons'. Costs decreased for stroke patients discharged during the latter part of the years studied, and if stroke patients happened to die during their hospital stay. The results do suggest that future implementation of output-pricing based on the DRG case-mix measures is feasible for stroke patients only if it is enhanced with information on complications and the level of functioning.

Analysis of hospital charges for cerebral infarction stroke inpatients in Beijing, People's Republic of China

OBJECTIVE

Stroke is a heavy economic burden on the individuals, society and health services in China, where health expenditure is rising rapidly. The purpose of the present study is to examine health services and demographic factors associated with inpatient charges for cerebral infarction in China, focusing on hospital charges of insured and uninsured patients.

METHODS

The study subjects were 545 patients with a principal diagnosis of cerebral infarction stroke who were discharged from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1998. Demographic, clinical and administrative data were retrospectively collected from the medical record and financial database. The influence of social and medical factors on total charges was analyzed with stepwise multiple regression model.

RESULTS

Of 545 subjects, 429 (79%) were the insured patients and 116 (21%) were the uninsured patients. Length of hospital stay (LOHS) for the insured patients (median, 32 days) was significantly longer (P<0.001) than that for the uninsured (median, 23 days). The hospital charges per discharge for the insured was significantly higher (geometric mean, 10407 yuan) (P<0.0001) than that for the uninsured patients (geometric mean, 5857 yuan). With stepwise multiple regression, factors associated independently with the hospital charge were: longer hospital stay, insurance status, increased number of head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT), infection in hospital stay, and more severe condition of stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Inpatient charge for cerebral infarction stroke was positively associated with being the insured. The findings suggest an overuse of health care resources in insured patients and limited use of resources by those who are not.