Regression models for analyzing costs and their determinants in health care: an introductory review

Resource Utilization and Costs Associated With Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Myocardial Infarction: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background

Cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS) is associated with significant short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. Despite this, little is known about associated cost.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health care costs and resource use associated with AMI-CS using administrative data from the province of Ontario, Canada.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with AMI-CS from April 2009 to March 2019. One-year costs following index admission were reported at an individual level. We used generalized linear models to identify factors associated with increased cost. We stratified patients by revascularization strategy to compare cost in each group and examined total cost at a patient level per individual fiscal year.

Results

We included 9,789 consecutive patients with AMI-CS across 135 centers in Ontario (mean age 70.5 years; 67.7% male). Mortality in-hospital was 30.2%, and mortality at 2 years was 45.9%. The median inpatient cost per patient was $23,912 (IQR: $12,234-$41,833) with a median total 1-year cost of $37,913 (IQR: $20,113-$66,582). The median 1-year cost was $17,730 (IQR: $9,323-$38,379) for those who died in hospital, and $45,713 (IQR: $29,688-$77,683) for those surviving to discharge, with $12,719 (IQR: $4,262-$35,275) occurring after discharge. Patients who received coronary artery bypass grafting incurred the highest cost among revascularization groups. No significant differences were observed in cost per fiscal year from 2009 to 2019.

Conclusions

AMI-CS is associated with significant health care costs, both during the index hospitalization and following discharge. To optimize cost-effectiveness, future therapies should aim to reduce disability in addition to improving mortality.

Association Between Dental Expenditure and Socioeconomic Status in Iran

BACKGROUND

Health care spending by households can be a great indicator of a society's commitment to good health stewardship and the efficiency of institutions responsible for managing health costs. Equitable and appropriate distribution of dental services is a challenging issue for realising universal health coverage. This study aimed to evaluate Iranian households' per capita dental expenditure (DE) according to their socioeconomic status (SES).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the income and expenditure of 18,701 urban and 19,261 rural households in Iran were scrutinised according to the data provided by the Statistics Center of Iran (2017-2018). After model creation, the SES index was determined using principal component analysis and weighting based on the analytical hierarchy process. The dependent variable was the share of per capita household's expenditure spent on dental health. The zero-inflated gamma regression model was applied to confirm the presumed association between per capita DE and SES. Analyses were performed using PROC NLMIXED in SAS software (version 4.9).

RESULTS

The results revealed that approximately 9% of urban and 4% of rural households paid for dental treatments in the past month. The DE to total health expenditure (HE) ratios were 8.5% and 14.8% for rural and urban households, respectively. Also, with each level increase in SES, the average per capita DE increased by 23% and 16% in rural and urban households, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirms association between per capita DE and SES in Iran. This implies targeted strategies to facilitate the utilisation of dental care especially for lower SES groups according to their needs.

Prospective study on the clinical and economic burden of venous leg ulcers in the tropics

OBJECTIVE

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are both chronic and recurrent. The treatment of such ulcers often require multiple outpatient visits and dressing changes. Several reports on the costs of treating such VLUs have been reported in the west. We prospectively evaluated the clinical and economic burden of VLUs in a population of Asian patients in the tropics.

METHODS

Patients from a prospective two-center study conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Singapore, as a part of the Wound Care Innovation in the Tropics program, between August 2018 and September 2021 were recruited. The patients were followed up for 12 weeks (visit 1 to visit 12), until index ulcer healing, death, or lost to follow-up (whichever came first). These patients were then followed up 12 weeks later to determine the longer term outcome of the wound (healed, recurrence, remained unhealed). The itemized costs derived from the medical service were retrieved from the relevant departments of the study sites. The patients' health-related quality of life was assessed at baseline and the last visit of the 12-week follow-up period (or until index ulcer healing), using the official Singapore version of the EuroQol five-dimension-5L questionnaire, which also includes a visual analog scale (EQ-VAS).

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients were enrolled; 63% were men, and the mean patient age was 64.7 years. Of the 116 patients, 85 (73%) had a healed ulcer at 24 weeks (mean duration to ulcer healing, 49 days), and 11 (12.9%) had experienced ulcer recurrence within the study period. Within the 6-month follow-up period, the mean direct healthcare cost per patient was USD$1998. The patients with healed ulcers had significantly lower costs per patient compared with those with unhealed ulcers (USD$1713 vs USD$2780). Regarding health-related quality of life, 71% of the patients had a lower quality of life at baseline, which had improved at 12 weeks of follow-up, with only 58% of the patients reported to have a lower quality of life. Also, the patients with healed ulcers scored higher for both utilities (societal preference weights) and EQ-VAS at follow-up (P < .001). In contrast, patients with unhealed ulcers only scored higher EQ-VAS at follow-up (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this exploratory study provide information on the clinical, quality of life, and economic burden of VLUs in an Asian population and suggest the importance of healing VLUs to reduce the effects on patients. The present study provides data as a basis for economic evaluation as a consideration for the treatment of VLUs.

The economic burden of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Australia: a cost of illness study

PURPOSE

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a type of interstitial lung disease found mostly in elderly persons, characterized by a high symptom burden and frequent encounters with health services. This study aimed to quantify the economic burden of IPF in Australia with a focus on resource utilization and associated direct costs.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from the Australian IPF Registry (AIPFR) between August 2018 and December 2019. Data on resource utilization and costs were collected via cost diaries and linked administrative data. Clinical data were collected from the AIPFR. A "bottom up" costing methodology was utilized, and the costing was performed from a partial societal perspective focusing primarily on direct medical and non-medical costs. Costs were standardized to 2021 Australian dollars ($).

RESULTS

The average annual total direct costs per person with IPF was $31,655 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): $27,723-$35,757). Extrapolating costs based on prevalence estimates, the total annual costs in Australia are projected to be $299 million (95% CI: $262 million-$338 million). Costs were mainly driven by antifibrotic medication, hospital admissions and medications for comorbidities. Disease severity, comorbidities and antifibrotic medication all had varying impacts on resource utilization and costs.

CONCLUSION

This cost-of-illness study provides the first comprehensive assessment of IPF-related direct costs in Australia, identifies the key cost drivers and provides a framework for future health economic analyses. Additionally, it provided insight into the major cost drivers which include antifibrotic medication, hospital admissions and medications related to comorbidities. Our findings emphasize the importance of the appropriate management of comorbidities in the care of people with IPF as this was one of the main reasons for hospitalizations.

Evaluation of the association between health insurance status and healthcare utilization and expenditures among adult cancer survivors in the United States

BACKGROUND

Health care expenditures for cancer care has increased significantly over the past decade and is further projected to rise. This study examined the associations between health insurance status and total direct health care expenditures and health care utilization among cancer survivors living in the United States.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of cancer survivors aged ≥18 years, identified from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) during 2017 using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes specific for cancer. Health insurance was categorized into Private, Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured. Multivariable ordinary least squares regression was used to examine the association between log expenditures and health insurance. Negative binomial regression with log link was used to obtain adjusted incident rate ratios (AIRR) for health care utilization. Survey weights were used to produce nationally representative estimates of the US population.

RESULTS

A total of 1140 (weighted = 13.9 million) cancer survivors were identified. Compared to the adjusted mean annual health care expenditures for the private group ($14,265; 95% confidence interval (CI): $12,645 to $16,092), the adjusted mean annual health care expenditures for the Medicare group were higher ($15,112; 95%CI: $13,361 to $17,092). As compared to the private group, the average annual expenditures for uninsured cancer survivors ($2315; 95%CI:1038 to $3501) was significantly lower and so was their health care utilization. Adjusted rates of ER visits for Medicaid were twice (AIRR:2.04; SE:0.28; p = 0.001) as compared to privately insured.

CONCLUSIONS

A difference in the average total direct expenditures between uninsured and privately insured patients was found. Uninsured had the lowest health care utilization while Medicaid reported significantly higher number of ER visits. Despite differences in program structures, health care expenditures across insurance types were similar. Lower utilization of health care services among uninsured suggests cost maybe a barrier to accessing care.

10-year follow-up study on medical expenses and medical care use according to biological age: National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HealS 2002~2019)

OBJECTIVES

The world is witnessing a sharp increase in its elderly population, accelerated by longer life expectancy and lower birth rates, which in turn imposes enormous medical burden on society. Although numerous studies have predicted medical expenses based on region, gender, and chronological age (CA), any attempt has rarely been made to utilize biological age (BA)-an indicator of health and aging-to ascertain and predict factors related to medical expenses and medical care use. Thus, this study employs BA to predict factors that affect medical expenses and medical care use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Referring to the health screening cohort database of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), this study targeted 276,723 adults who underwent health check-ups in 2009-2010 and kept track of the data on their medical expenses and medical care use up to 2019. The average follow-up period is 9.12 years. Twelve clinical indicators were used to measure BA, while the total annual medical expenses, total annual number of outpatient days, total annual number of days in hospital, and average annual increases in medical expenses were used as the variables for medical expenses and medical care use. For statistical analysis, this study employed Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

Regression analysis of the differences between corrected biological age (cBA) and CA exhibited statistically significant increases (p<0.05) in all the variables of the total annual medical expenses, total annual number of outpatient days, total annual number of days in hospital, and average annual increases in medical expenses.

CONCLUSIONS

This study quantified decreases in the variables for medical expenses and medical care use based on improved BA, thereby motivating people to become more health-conscious. In particular, this study is significant in that it is the first of its kind to predict medical expenses and medical care use through BA.

Comparison of COVID-19 hospitalization costs across care pathways: a patient-level time-driven activity-based costing analysis in a Brazilian hospital

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the need to better understand where and how patient-level costs are incurred in health care organizations, as health managers and other decision-makers need to plan and quickly adapt to the increasing demand for health care services to meet patients' care needs. Time-driven activity-based costing offers a better understanding of the drivers of cost throughout the care pathway, providing information that can guide decisions on process improvement and resource optimization. This study aims to estimate COVID-19 patient-level hospital costs and to evaluate cost variability considering the in-hospital care pathways of COVID-19 management and the patient clinical classification.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study that applied time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) in a Brazilian reference center for COVID-19. Patients hospitalized during the first wave of the disease were selected for their data to be analyzed to estimate in-hospital costs. The cost information was calculated at the patient level and stratified by hospital care pathway and Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (OSCI) category. Multivariable analyses were applied to identify predictors of cost variability in the care pathways that were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 208 patients were included in the study. Patients followed five different care pathways, of which Emergency + Ward was the most followed (n = 118, 57%). Pathways which included the intensive care unit presented a statistically significant influence on costs per patient (p <  0.001) when compared to Emergency + Ward. The median cost per patient was I$2879 (IQR 1215; 8140) and mean cost per patient was I$6818 (SD 9043). The most expensive care pathway was the ICU only, registering a median cost per patient of I$13,519 (IQR 5637; 23,373) and mean cost per patient of I$17,709 (SD 16,020). All care pathways that included the ICU unit registered a higher cost per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the first microcosting study for COVID-19 that applied the TDABC methodology and demonstrated how patient-level costs vary as a function of the care pathways followed by patients. These findings can be used to develop value reimbursement strategies that will inform sustainable health policies in middle-income countries such as Brazil.

A two-stage super learner for healthcare expenditures

Objective

To improve the estimation of healthcare expenditures by introducing a novel method that is well-suited to situations where data exhibit strong skewness and zero-inflation.

Data Sources

Simulations, and two real-world datasets: the 2016-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS); the Back Pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD).

Study Design

Super learner is an ensemble machine learning approach that can combine several algorithms to improve estimation. We propose a two-stage super learner that is well suited for healthcare expenditure data by separately estimating the probability of any healthcare expenditure and the mean amount of healthcare expenditure conditional on having healthcare expenditures. These estimates can then be combined to yield a single estimate of expenditures for each observation. The analytical strategy can flexibly incorporate a range of individual estimation approaches for each stage of estimation, including both regression-based approaches and machine learning algorithms such as random forests. We compare the performance of the two-stage super learner with a one-stage super learner, and with multiple individual algorithms for estimation of healthcare cost under a broad range of data settings in simulated and real data. The predictive performance was compared using Mean Squared Error and R².

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the two-stage super learner has better performance compared with a one-stage super learner and individual algorithms, for healthcare cost estimation under a wide variety of settings in simulations and in empirical analyses. The improvement of the two-stage super learner over the one-stage super learner was particularly evident in settings when zero-inflation is high.

Cost-effectiveness of noninvasive telemedical interventional management in patients with heart failure: health economic analysis of the TIM-HF2 trial

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive remote patient management (RPM) in patients with heart failure (HF) has been shown to reduce the days lost due to unplanned cardiovascular hospital admissions and all-cause mortality in the Telemedical Interventional Management in Heart Failure II trial (TIM-HF2). The health economic implications of these findings are the focus of the present analyses from the payer perspective.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 1538 participants of the TIM-HF2 randomized controlled trial were assigned to the RPM and Usual Care group. Health claims data were available for 1450 patients (n = 715 RPM group, n = 735 Usual Care group), which represents 94.3% of the original TIM-HF2 patient population, were linked to primary data from the study documentation and evaluated in terms of the health care cost, total cost (accounting for intervention costs), costs per day alive and out of hospital (DAOH), and cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The average health care costs per patient year amounted to € 14,412 (95% CI 13,284-15,539) in the RPM group and € 17,537 (95% CI 16,179-18,894) in the UC group. RPM led to cost savings of € 3125 per patient year (p = 0.001). After including the intervention costs, a cost saving of € 1758 per patient year remained (p = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

The additional noninvasive telemedical interventional management in patients with HF was cost-effective compared to standard care alone, since such intervention was associated with overall cost savings and superior clinical effectiveness.

Predicting the Annual Funding for Public Hospitals with Regression Analysis on Hospital’s Operating Costs: Evidence from the Greek Public Sector

The funding of public hospitals is an issue that has been of great concern to health systems in the past decades. Public hospitals are owned and fully funded by the government, providing in most countries medical care to patients free of charge, covering expenses and wages by government reimbursement. Several studies in different countries have attempted to investigate the potential role and contribution of hospital and clinical data to their overall financial requirements. Many of them have suggested the necessity of implementing DRGs (Diagnosis Related Groups) and activity-based funding, whereas others identify flaws and difficulties with these methods. What was attempted in this study is to find an alternative way of estimating the necessary fundings for public hospitals, regardless the case mix managed by each of them, based on their characteristics (size, specialty, location, intensive care units, number of employees, etc.) and its annual output (patients, days of hospitalization, number of surgeries, laboratory tests, etc.). We used financial and operational data from 121 public hospitals in Greece for a 2-years period (2018–2019) and evaluated with regression analysis the contribution of descriptive and operational data in the total operational cost. Since we had repeated measures from the same hospitals over the years, we used methods suitable for longitudinal data analysis and developed a model for calculating annual operational costs with an R²≈0.95. The main conclusion is that the type of hospital in combination with the number of beds, the existence of an intensive care unit, the number of employees, the total number of inpatients, their days of hospitalization and the total number of laboratory tests are the key factors that determine the hospital’s operating costs. The significant implication of this model that emerged from this study is its potential to form the basis for a national system of economic evaluation of public hospitals and allocation of national resources for public health.

Indirect Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes Across 12 European Countries

BACKGROUND

National studies report a high variability of indirect costs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, selected aspects of the societal burden of IBDs were compared between 12 European countries.

METHODS

A questionnaire-based study among adult patients with IBD was performed. Data on patient characteristics, productivity loss, and informal care were collected. The costs of productivity loss were assessed from the social perspective. The cost of absenteeism and presenteeism was valuated using the gross domestic product per worker. Informal care was measured by time inputs of relatives and friends to assist patients. Productivity loss among informal caregivers outside their paid work was valuated with the average wage. The results were adjusted for confounders and multiplicity.

RESULTS

Responses from 3687 patients (67% employed) were analyzed. Regular activity (outside paid work) impairment did not differ between countries, but a significant difference in informal care and productivity loss was observed. There were no differences in indirect costs between the types of IBD across the countries. The mean annual cost of absenteeism, presenteeism, and informal care varied from €1253 (Bulgaria) to €7915 (Spain), from €2149 (Bulgaria) to €14 524 (Belgium), and from €1729 (Poland) to €12 063 (Italy), respectively. Compared with patients with active disease, those with IBD in remission showed a lower indirect cost by 54% (presenteeism, P < .001) or 75% (absenteeism, informal care, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed a high relevance of the indirect cost of IBD in the context of economic evaluation, as well as a between-country variability of work-related impairment or informal care.

Health care expenditures among long-term survivors of pediatric solid tumors: Results from the French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (FCCSS) and the French network of cancer registries (FRANCIM)

Background

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) may require lifelong medical care due to late effects of cancer treatments. Little is known about of their healthcare utilization and expenditures at long-term especially in publicly funded health care system. We aim to estimate and describe the health care expenditures among long-term CCS in France.

Methods

A total of 5319 five-year solid CCS diagnosed before the age of 21 between 1945 and 2000 in France were identified in the French Childhood Cancer Survivors Study cohort (FCCSS) and the French cancer registry. Information about health care expenditure was taken from the French national health data system between 2011 and 2016, and was described according to survivors’ characteristics. Generalized linear models were used to determine associations between health care expenditures and survivors’ characteristics.

Results

Mean annual amount of healthcare expenditures was € 4,255. Expenditures on hospitalizations and pharmacy represents 60% of total expenditures. Mean annual of healthcare expenditures were higher at increasing age, among women survivors (€ 4,795 vs € 3,814 in men) and in central nervous system (CNS) tumor survivors (€ 7,116 vs € 3,366 in lymphoma and € 3,363 in other solid tumor survivors).

Conclusions

Childhood cancer survivorship is associated with a substantial economic burden in France. We found that female gender and CNS primary cancer were associated with increased healthcare expenditures.

Direct costs of hospital care of self-harm: A national register-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate national direct hospital costs associated with treatment of self-harm and to analyse whether costs differ with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics.

METHODS

A cohort design was applied to register data on all people living in Denmark (5.8 million inhabitants) from Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2016. Self-harm presentations at all hospitals by persons aged 10 years and older were included. Total costs and costs related to somatic and psychiatric care and treatment setting (inpatient, emergency department and outpatient) were calculated (in US dollars). The association between specific characteristics and somatic inpatient costs was analysed adjusted using generalized linear models and expressed as Odds Ratios (OR).

RESULTS

In all, 42,634 (97.3%) self-harm presentations by 30,366 persons were included. Annual somatic and psychiatric costs amounted to $25,241,518 and $34,696,388, respectively, and the median cost per episode was $2248 (IQR: $1553-$4138). Predictors of high somatic inpatient costs were: admission to intensive care (OR = 15.6; 95% CI, 13.7-17.9), particularly dangerous methods of self-harm, such as being hit by moving objects (OR = 6.5; 95% CI, 2.7-15.7) and shooting (OR = 6.0; 95% CI, 3.4-10.7), and age ≥75 years (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5-2.2). A small group of persons (0.7%) with ≥10 presentations accounted for 8.2% of somatic and 15.3% of total hospital costs.

CONCLUSION

Substantial hospital costs were noted for inpatient treatment. Although one-time presenters accounted for the major share of costs, smaller patient groups accounted for considerable shares. Hospital costs of self-harm should be included in evaluation of initiatives for prevention and treatment.

Public Health Expenditures and Clinical and Social Complexity of Tuberculosis Cases-Alameda County, California, July-December 2017

CONTEXT

Alameda County, California, is a high tuberculosis (TB) burden county that reported a TB incidence rate of 8.1 per 100 000 during 2017. It is the only high TB burden California county that does not have a public health-funded TB clinic.

OBJECTIVE

To describe TB public health expenditures and clinical and social complexities of TB case-patients.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Public health surveillance of confirmed and possible TB case-patients reported to Alameda County Public Health Department during July 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017. Social complexity status was categorized for all case-patients using surveillance data; clinical complexity status, either by surveillance definition or by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), was categorized only for confirmed TB case-patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Total public health and per patient expenditures were stratified by insurance status. Cohen's kappa assessed concordance between clinical complexity definitions. All comparisons were conducted using Fisher's exact or Kruskal-Wallis tests.

RESULTS

Of 81 case-patients reported, 68 (84%) had confirmed TB, 29 (36%) were socially complex, and 15 (19%) were uninsured. Total public health expenditures were $487 194, and 18% of expenditures were in nonlabor domains, 57% of which were for TB treatment, diagnostics, and insurance, with insured patients also incurring such expenditures. Median per patient expenditures were significantly higher for uninsured and government-insured patients than for privately insured patients ($7007 and $5045 vs $3704; P = .03). Among confirmed TB case-patients, 72% were clinically complex by surveillance definition and 53% by the CCI; concordance between definitions was poor (κ = 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.46).

CONCLUSIONS

Total public health expenditures approached $500 000. Most case-patients were clinically complex, and about 20% were uninsured. While expenditures were higher for uninsured case-patients, insured case-patients still incurred TB treatment, diagnostic, and insurance-related expenditures. State and local health departments may be able to use our expenditure estimates by insurance status and description of clinically complex TB case-patients to inform efforts to allocate and secure adequate funding.

Healthcare resource utilisation and medical costs for children with interstitial lung diseases (chILD) in Europe

BACKGROUND

No data on healthcare utilisation and associated costs for the many rare entities of children's interstitial lung diseases (chILD) exist. This paper portrays healthcare utilisation structures among individuals with chILD, provides a pan-European estimate of a 3-month interval per-capita costs and delineates crucial cost drivers.

METHODS

Based on longitudinal healthcare resource utilisation pattern of 445 children included in the Kids Lung Register diagnosed with chILD across 10 European countries, we delineated direct medical and non-medical costs of care per 3-month interval. Country-specific utilisation patterns were assessed with a children-tailored modification of the validated FIMA questionnaire and valued by German unit costs. Costs of care and their drivers were subsequently identified via gamma-distributed generalised linear regression models.

RESULTS

During the 3 months prior to inclusion into the registry (baseline), the rate of hospital admissions and inpatient days was high. Unadjusted direct medical per capita costs (€19 818) exceeded indirect (€1 907) and direct non-medical costs (€1 125) by far. Country-specific total costs ranged from €8 713 in Italy to €28 788 in Poland. Highest expenses were caused by the disease categories 'diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD)-diffuse developmental disorders' (€45 536) and 'DPLD-unclear in the non-neonate' (€47 011). During a follow-up time of up to 5 years, direct medical costs dropped, whereas indirect costs and non-medical costs remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first prospective, longitudinal study analysing healthcare resource utilisation and costs for chILD across different European countries. Our results indicate that chILD is associated with high utilisation of healthcare services, placing a substantial economic burden on health systems.

Incremental Healthcare Resource Utilization and Expenditures Associated with Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most prevalent comorbid condition among patients with diabetes. The objective of this study is to determine the incremental healthcare resource utilization and expenditures (HRUE) associated with CVD comorbidity in diabetic patients.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, patients receiving antidiabetic drugs were identified using the 2014 database of the Iran Health Insurance Organization of East Azerbaijan province (Iran). The frequency of HRUE was the main outcome. Outcome measures were compared between diabetic patients with and without CVD comorbidity during 2014-2016. The generalized regression model was used to adjust for cofounders because of a highly skewed distribution of data. Negative binomial regression and gamma distribution model were applied for the count and expenditure data, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 34,716 diabetic patients were identified, of which 21,659 (63%) had CVD comorbidity. The incremental healthcare resource utilization associated with CVD compared to non-CVD diabetic patients for physician services, prescription drugs, laboratory tests, and medical imaging was 5.9±0.34 (28% increase), 46±1.9 (46%), 12.9±0.66 (27%), and 0.16±0.40 (7%), respectively (all P<0.001). Similarly, extra health care costs associated with CVD comorbidity for physician services, prescription drugs, laboratory tests, and medical imaging were 10.6±0.67 million IRR (294.4±18.6 USD) (50% increase), 1.44±0.06 million IRR (40±1.6 USD) (32%), 8.36±0.57 million IRR (232.2±15.8 USD) (58%), 0.51±0.02 million IRR (14.1±0.5 USD) (24%), and 0.29±0.02 million IRR (8±0.5 USD) (22%), respectively (all P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

CVD comorbidity substantially increases HRUE in patients with diabetes. Our findings draw the attention of healthcare decision-makers to proactively prevent CVD comorbidity in diabetic patients.

Total health insurance costs in children with a migraine diagnosis compared to a control group

Background

Health care costs of migraine constitute a major issue in health economics. Several publications analyzed health care costs for adult migraine patients, based on questionnaires or secondary (health insurance) data. Although migraine often starts already in primary school age, data on migraine related costs in children is scarce. In this paper we aimed to assess the migraine-related health care costs in 6 to 11 year old children in Germany.

Methods

Using claims data of a large German health insurer (BARMER), overall annual health care costs of 6 to 11 year old children with a diagnosis of migraine in 2017 (n = 2597) were compared to a control group of 6 to 11 year old children without a headache diagnosis between 2013 and 2017 (n = 306,926). The association of migraine and costs was modeled by generalized linear regression (Gamma regression) with adjustment for sex, age and comorbidities.

Results

Children with migraine caused considerably higher annual per capita health care costs than children without a headache diagnosis (migraine group: € 1018, control group: € 618). Excess costs directly related to migraine amounted to € 115. The remaining excess costs were related to comorbidities, which were more frequent in the migraine group. Mental and behavioural disorders constituted the most expensive comorbidity, accounting for € 105 of the € 400 annual excess costs in the migraine group.

Conclusion

6 to 11 year old children with a migraine diagnosis cause significant direct and comorbidity related excess costs in the German health care system.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-021-01349-w.

Comparison of Japanese Centenarians' and Noncentenarians' Medical Expenditures in the Last Year of Life

IMPORTANCE

Although research has shown that centenarians tend to experience shorter periods of serious illness compared with other age groups, few studies have focused on the medical expenditures of centenarians as a potential indicator of the scale of medical resources used in their last year of life.

OBJECTIVE

To compare Japanese centenarians' and noncentenarians' monthly medical expenditures during the year before death according to age and sex.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study used linked national health and long-term care insurance data collected from April 2013 to March 2018 in Nara Prefecture, Japan, for residents aged 75 years or older who were insured under the Medical Care System for older adults and died between April 2014 and March 2018. Data were analyzed from April 2013 to March 2018.

EXPOSURES

Age of 100 years or older (centenarians) vs 75 to 99 years (noncentenarians).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The numbers of unique inpatients and outpatients and medical expenditures related to decedents' hospitalization and outpatient care were extracted and analyzed based on sex and age group. The Jonckheere-Terpstra test was used to identify trends in unadjusted medical expenditures by age group, and generalized estimating equations were used to estimate monthly median expenditures by age group with adjustment for comorbidity burden and functional status.

RESULTS

Of 34 317 patients aged 75 to 109 years (16 202 men [47.2%] and 18 115 women [52.8%]) who died between April 2014 and March 2018, 872 (2.5%) were aged 100 to 104 years (131 men [15.0%] and 741 women [85.0%]) and 78 (0.2%) were aged 105 to 109 years (fewer than 10 were men). The analysis of unadjusted medical expenditures in the last year of life showed a significant trend of lower expenditures for the older age groups; the median adjusted total expenditures during the 30 days before death by age group were $6784 (IQR, $4884-$9703) for ages 75 to 79 years, $5894 (IQR, $4292-$8536) for 80 to 84 years, $5069 (IQR, $3676-$7150) for 85 to 89 years, $4205 (IQR, $3085-$5914) for 90 to 94 years, $3522 (IQR, $2626-$4861) for 95 to 99 years, $2898 (IQR, $2241-$3835) for 100 to 104 years, and $2626 (IQR, $1938-$3527) for 105 to 109 years. The proportion of inpatients among all patients in the year before death also decreased with increasing age: 4311 of all 4551 patients aged 75 to 79 years (94.7%); 43 of all 78 patients aged 105 to 109 years (55.1%); 2831 of 2956 men aged 75 to 79 years (95.8%); 50.0% of men aged 105 to 109 years (the number is not reported owing to the small sample size); 1480 of 1595 women aged 75 to 79 years (92.8%); and 55.7% of women aged 105 to 109 years (the number of women is not reported to prevent back-calculation of the number of men). Specifically, 274 of 872 patients aged 100 to 104 years (31.4%) and 35 of 78 patients aged 105 to 109 years (44.9%) had not been admitted to a hospital in the year before death.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study found that medical expenditures in the last year of life tended to be lower for centenarians than for noncentenarians aged 75 years or older in Japan. The proportion of inpatients also decreased with increasing age. These findings may inform future health care services coverage and policies for centenarians.

Costs and barriers faced by households seeking malaria treatment in the Upper River Region, The Gambia

BACKGROUND

Malaria transmission in The Gambia decreased substantially over the last 20 years thanks to the scale-up of control interventions. However, malaria prevalence is still relatively high in eastern Gambia and represents both a health and a financial burden for households. This study aims to quantify the out-of-pocket costs and productivity losses of seeking malaria treatment at household level.

METHODS

A household survey was carried out through in-person interviews. Respondents were asked about malaria prevention methods, their treatment-seeking behaviour, and any costs incurred for transport, services, food, and/or overnight stays. A bottom-up costing approach was used to calculate the unit cost of treatment and a tobit regression approach to investigate cost drivers.

RESULTS

The survey included 864 respondents, mainly subsistence farmers. Most respondents (87%) considered malaria to be a problem affecting their ability to perform their regular duties. Respondents preferred going to a health facility for treatment. The primary reason for not going was related to costs; 70% of respondents incurred costs for seeking health care, with a median of £3.62 (IQR: £1.73 to £6.10). The primary driver of cost was living in one of the villages that are off the main road and/or far from health facilities. 66% reported productivity loss of 5 working days on average during a malaria episode of them or their child.

CONCLUSIONS

Although malaria prevalence is decreasing and treatment is provided free of charge, households seeking treatment are confronted with out-of-pocket expenditures and lost working days; particularly in remote villages.

Comparison of cost effectiveness between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (vats) and open lobectomy: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is highly prevalent in Chinese population. The association of operative approach with economic burden in these patients remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This institution-level cohort study aimed to compare the cost-related clinical outcomes and health care costs among patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open lobectomy, and to investigate the factors associated with the costs.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent VATS or open lobectomy in a provincial referral cancer center in China in 2018. Propensity score matching (PSM) method was applied to balance the baseline characteristics in VATS lobectomy and open lobectomy group. Clinical effectiveness measures included post-operative blood transfusion, lung infection, and length of stay (LOS). Hospitalization costs were extracted from hospital information system to assess economic burden. Multivariable generalized linear model (GLM) with gamma probability distribution and log-link was used to analyze the factors associated with total costs.

RESULTS

After PSM, 376 patients were selected in the analytic sample. Compared to open lobectomy group, the VATS lobectomy group had a lower blood transfusion rate (2.13% vs. 3.19%, P = 0.75), lower lung infection rate (21.28% vs. 39.89%, P < 0.001) and shorter post-operative LOS (9.4 ± 3.22 days vs. 10.86 ± 4.69 days, P < 0.001). Total hospitalization costs of VATS lobectomy group and open lobectomy were similar: Renminbi (RMB) 84398.03 ± 13616.13, RMB 81,964.92 ± 16748.11, respectively (P = 0.12). Total non-surgery costs were significantly lower in the VATS lobectomy group than in the open lobectomy group: RMB 41948.40 ± 7747.54 vs. RMB 45752.36 ± 10346.42 (P < 0.001). VATS approach, lung infection, longer post-operative length of stay, health insurance coverage, and lung cancer diagnosis were associated with higher total hospitalization costs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

VATS lobectomy has a lower lung infection rate, and shorter post-operative LOS than open lobectomy. Future studies are needed to investigate other aspects of clinical effectiveness and the economic burden from a societal perspective.

Aging and direct medical costs of osteoporotic fractures

INTRODUCTION

This study estimated the direct medical costs of osteoporotic fractures from a large claims database in Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared the medical costs of hip, vertebral, and wrist fractures between two age groups (50-64 years vs 65 years and older). We used a generalized linear model to investigate the drivers of osteoporotic fracture medical costs.

RESULTS

Hip fractures had the highest costs, regardless of age, followed by vertebral and wrist. The cost of hip fracture was USD 7285 for those aged 65 years and over and USD 6589 for those aged 50-64 years. The length of hospital days was higher in hip fracture patients, regardless of age, followed by vertebral and wrist. As the number of hospitalizations increased, the medical cost increased by 33.0% (p < 0.0001). Patients older than 65 years who were hospitalized for a fracture had a longer total length of hospital stay, compared to patients aged 50-64, regardlessness of the site of the fracture. The cost of treating fractures among those 65 years and older increased by 31.8% compared to those 50-64 years old (p < 0.0001). The direct medical costs increased by 8.6% as the number of fractures increased (p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified that osteoporotic fracture-related medical costs and hospitalization days increased with age. Interventions are effective in reducing fracture risk the potential to yield substantial cost savings.

Measuring the economic impact of hospital-acquired complications on an acute health service

Objective This study determined the economic impact of 16 'high-priority' hospital-acquired complications (HACs), as defined by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, from the perspective of an individual Australian health service. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using a deidentified patient dataset containing 93056 in-patient separations in Northern Health (Victoria, Australia) from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. Two log-linked generalised linear regression models were used to obtain additional costs and additional length of stay (LOS) for 16 different HACs, with the main outcome measures being the additional cost and LOS for all 16 HACs. Results In all, 1700 separations involving HACs (1.83%) were identified. The most common HAC was health care-associated infections. Most HACs were associated with a statistically significant risk of increased cost (15/16 HACs) and LOS (11/16 HACs). HACs involving falls resulting in fracture or other intracranial injury were associated with the highest additional cost (A$17173). The biggest increase in additional LOS was unplanned admissions to the intensive care unit (5.42 days). Conclusions This study shows the economic impact of HACs from the perspective of an individual health service. The methodology used demonstrates how other health services could determine safety priorities corresponding to their own casemix. What is known about the topic? HACs are a major issue in Australian health care; however, their effect on cost and LOS at the individual health service level is not well quantified. What does this paper add? Additional cost and LOS implications for 16 high-priority HACs have been quantified within an Australian health service. There is substantial variation in terms of the number of HACs and the economic impact of each HAC. What are the implications for practitioners? This study provides a template for other health services to assess the economic impact of HACs corresponding to their own casemix and to inform targeted patient safety programs.

A machine learning approach to predict healthcare cost of breast cancer patients

This paper presents a novel machine learning approach to perform an early prediction of the healthcare cost of breast cancer patients. The learning phase of our prediction method considers the following two steps: (1) in the first step, the patients are clustered taking into account the sequences of actions undergoing similar clinical activities and ensuring similar healthcare costs, and (2) a Markov chain is then learned for each group to describe the action-sequences of the patients in the cluster. A two step procedure is undertaken in the prediction phase: (1) first, the healthcare cost of a new patient’s treatment is estimated based on the average healthcare cost of its k-nearest neighbors in each group, and (2) finally, an aggregate measure of the healthcare cost estimated by each group is used as the final predicted cost. Experiments undertaken reveal a mean absolute percentage error as small as 6%, even when half of the clinical records of a patient is available, substantiating the early prediction capability of the proposed method. Comparative analysis substantiates the superiority of the proposed algorithm over the state-of-the-art techniques.

Short- and Long-term Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the short- and long-term resource use and costs associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) taken from an entire population. We in addition sought to evaluate the association of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and health care costs.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) with ICH in the entire population of Ontario, Canada (2009-2017). We captured outcomes through linkage to health administrative databases. We used generalized linear models to identify factors associated with total cost. Analysis of OAC use was limited to patients ≥66 years of age. The primary outcome was total 1-year direct health care costs in 2020 US dollars.

RESULTS

Among 16,248 individuals with ICH (mean age 71.2 years, male 52.3%), 1-year mortality was 46.0%, and 24.2% required mechanical ventilation. The median total 1-year cost was $26,886 (interquartile range [IQR] $9,641-$62,907) with costs for those who died in hospital of $7,268 (IQR $4,031-$14,966) vs $44,969 (IQR $20,264-$82,414, p < 0.001) for survivors to discharge. OAC use (analysis limited to individuals ≥66 years old) was associated with higher total 1-year costs (cost ratio 1.06 [95% confidence interval 1.01-1.11]). Total 1-year costs for the entire cohort exceeded $120 million per year over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

ICH is associated with significant health care costs, and the median cost of a patient with ICH is roughly 10 times the median inpatient cost in Ontario. Costs were higher among survivors than deceased patients. OAC use is independently associated with increased costs. To maximize cost-effectiveness, future therapies for ICH must aim to reduce disability, not only improve mortality.

Real-World Treatment Costs and Care Utilization in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder With and Without Psychiatric Comorbidities in Specialist Mental Healthcare

BACKGROUND

The majority of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have comorbid mental conditions.

OBJECTIVES

Since most cost-of-illness studies correct for comorbidity, this study focuses on mental healthcare utilization and treatment costs in patients with MDD including psychiatric comorbidities in specialist mental healthcare, particularly patients with a comorbid personality disorder (PD).

METHODS

The Psychiatric Case Register North Netherlands contains administrative data of specialist mental healthcare providers. Treatment episodes were identified from uninterrupted healthcare use. Costs were calculated by multiplying care utilization with unit prices (price level year: 2018). Using generalized linear models, cost drivers were investigated for the entire cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 34,713 patients had MDD as a primary diagnosis over the period 2000-2012. The number of patients with psychiatric comorbidities was 24,888 (71.7%), including 13,798 with PD. Costs were highly skewed, with an average ± standard deviation cost per treatment episode of €21,186 ± 74,192 (median €2320). Major cost drivers were inpatient days and daycare days (50 and 28% of total costs), occurring in 12.7 and 12.5% of episodes, respectively. Compared with patients with MDD only (€11,612), costs of patients with additional PD and with or without other comorbidities were, respectively, 2.71 (p < .001) and 2.06 (p < .001) times higher and were 1.36 (p < .001) times higher in patients with MDD and comorbidities other than PD. Other cost drivers were age, calendar year, and first episodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric comorbidities (especially PD) in addition to age and first episodes drive costs in patients with MDD. Knowledge of cost drivers may help in the development of future stratified disease management programs.

Associations of patient-centered medical home with quality of care, patient experience, and health expenditures: A STROBE-compliant cross-sectional study

In efforts to improve the delivery of quality primary care, patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model has been promoted. However, evidence on its association with health outcomes has been mixed. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of PCMH model on quality of care, patient experience, health expenditures.This was a cross-sectional study of the 2015-2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Medical Organization Survey linked data, including 5748 patient-provider pairs. We examined twenty-four quality of care measures (18 high-value and 6 low-value care services), health service utilization, patient experience (patient-provider communication, satisfaction), and health expenditure.Of 5748 patients, representing a weighted population of 56.2 million American adults aged 18 years and older, 44.2% were cared for by PCMH certified providers. 9.3% of those with PCMHs had at least one inpatient stay in the past year, which was comparable to the 11.4% among those with non-PCMHs. Similarly, 17.4% of respondents cared for by PCMH and 18.5% cared for by non-PCMH had at least one ED visit. Overall, we found no significant differences in quality of care measures (neither high-nor low-value of care) between the two groups. The overall satisfaction, the experience of access to care, and communication with providers were also comparable. Patients who were cared for by PCMHs had less total health expenditure (difference $217) and out-of-pocket spending (difference $91) than those cared for by non-PCMHs; however, none of these differences reached the statistical significance (adjusted P > 0.05 for all).This study found no meaningful difference in quality of care, patient experience, health care utilization, or health care expenditures between respondents cared for by PCMH and non-PCMH. Our findings suggest that the PCMH model is not superior in the quality of care delivered to non-PCMH providers.

Outcomes and Costs of Open and Endovascular Revascularisation for Chronic Limb Ischaemia in an Australian Cohort

OBJECTIVE

The costs of open and endovascular revascularisation to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) have not been fully established. This study examined the costs of both the index admission and any readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge for people having revascularisation at a single centre in Australia.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Eligible participants were those presenting with chronic limb ischaemia requiring revascularisation between 2002 and 2017. Generalised linear modelling was used to estimate mean (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) hospital costs for the index and readmission hospital treatments.

RESULTS

A total of 302 participants presenting with intermittent claudication (n=219; 72.5%) or chronic limb threatening ischaemia (n=83; 27.5%) treated by open (n=116; 38.4%) or endovascular (n=186; 61.6%) revascularisation were included. Forty-eight (48) (15.9%) participants were readmitted within 30 days of discharge from their index admission. The mean estimated index admission hospital cost was AUD$13,827 (95% CI, $11,935-$15,818) per person. This cost was significantly greater for open as compared to endovascular revascularisation (p<0.001). The mean estimated hospital cost was AUD$15,324 ($10,944-$19,966) per person readmitted. When comparing participants treated before and after 2010, the total hospital costs decreased, mainly due to decreased lengths of hospital stay for open procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study the hospital costs were less for endovascular than open revascularisation of chronic limb ischaemia. Costs decreased over time. Readmission is an important contributor to the overall costs of peripheral revascularisation.

Multimorbidity and Its Outcomes Among Patients Attending Psychiatric Care Settings: An Observational Study From Odisha, India

Background: Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic health conditions is linked to premature mortality among psychiatric patients since the presence of one can further complicate the management of either. Little research has focused on the magnitude and effect of multimorbidity among psychiatric patients in low-and middle-income settings. Our study, provides the first ever data on multimorbidity and its outcomes among patients attending psychiatric clinics in Odisha, India. It further explored whether multimorbidity was associated with higher medical expenditure and the interaction effect of psychiatric illness on this association.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 500 adult patients presenting to the psychiatric clinic of a medical college hospital in Odisha over a period of 6 months (February 2019–July 2019). A validated structured questionnaire, “multimorbidity assessment questionnaire for psychiatric care” (MAQ-PsyC) was used for data collection. We used multinomial logistic model for the effect estimation. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for high healthcare utilization and expenditure were calculated by number and pattern of multimorbidity. Data was analyzed by STATA 14.

Results: Half (50%) of the psychiatric outpatients had multimorbidity. The relative probabilities of having one additional condition were 5.3 times (RRR = 5.3; 95% CI: 2.3, 11.9) and multiple morbidities were 6.6 times (RRR = 6.6; 95%CI: 3.3, 13.1) higher for patients in 60+ age group. Healthcare utilization i.e., medication use and physician consultation was significantly higher for psychiatric conditions such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders, and for hypertension, cancer, diabetes, among somatic conditions. Out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) was found to be highest for laboratory investigations, followed by medicines and transport expenditure. Within psychiatric conditions, mood disorders incurred highest OOPE ($93.43) while hypertension was the most leading for OOPE in physical morbidities ($93.43). Psychiatric illnesses had a significant interaction effect on the association between multimorbidity and high medical expenditure (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Multimorbidity is highly prevalent in psychiatric patients associated with significantly high healthcare utilization and medical expenditure. Such disproportionate effect of psychiatric multimorbidity on healthcare cost and use insinuates the need for stronger financial protection and tailor-made clinical decision making for these vulnerable patient subgroups.

Random intercept and linear mixed models including heteroscedasticity in a logarithmic scale: Correction terms and prediction in the original scale

Random intercept models are linear mixed models (LMM) including error and intercept random effects. Sometimes heteroscedasticity is included and the response variable is transformed into a logarithmic scale, while inference is required in the original scale; thus, the response variable has a log-normal distribution. Hence, correction terms should be included to predict the response in the original scale. These terms multiply the exponentiated predicted response variable, which subestimates the real values. We derive the correction terms, simulations and real data about the income of elderly are presented to show the importance of using them to obtain more accurate predictions. Generalizations for any LMM are also presented.

Understanding health-care outcomes of older people with cognitive impairment and/or dementia admitted to hospital: a mixed-methods study

Background

Cognitive impairment is common in older people admitted to hospital, but previous research has focused on single conditions.

Objective

This project sits in phase 0/1 of the Medical Research Council Framework for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions. It aims to develop an understanding of current health-care outcomes. This will be used in the future development of a multidomain intervention for people with confusion (dementia and cognitive impairment) in general hospitals. The research was conducted from January 2015 to June 2018 and used data from people admitted between 2012 and 2013.

Design

For the review of outcomes, the systematic review identified peer-reviewed quantitative epidemiology measuring prevalence and associations with outcomes. Screening for duplication and relevance was followed by full-text review, quality assessment and a narrative review (141 papers). A survey sought opinion on the key outcomes for people with dementia and/or confusion and their carers in the acute hospital (n = 78). For the analysis of outcomes including cost, the prospective cohort study was in a medical admissions unit in an acute hospital in one Scottish health board covering 10% of the Scottish population. The participants (n = 6724) were older people (aged ≥ 65 years) with or without a cognitive spectrum disorder who were admitted as medical emergencies between January 2012 and December 2013 and who underwent a structured nurse assessment. ‘Cognitive spectrum disorder’ was defined as any combination of delirium, known dementia or an Abbreviated Mental Test score of < 8 out of 10 points. The main outcome measures were living at home 30 days after discharge, mortality within 2 years of admission, length of stay, re-admission within 2 years of admission and cost.

Data sources

Scottish Morbidity Records 01 was linked to the Older Persons Routine Acute Assessment data set.

Results

In the systematic review, methodological heterogeneity, especially concerning diagnostic criteria, means that there is significant overlap in conditions of patients presenting to general hospitals with confusion. Patients and their families expect that patients are discharged in the same or a better condition than they were in on admission or, failing that, that they have a satisfactory experience of their admission. Cognitive spectrum disorders were present in more than one-third of patients aged ≥ 65 years, and in over half of those aged ≥ 85 years. Outcomes were worse in those patients with cognitive spectrum disorders than in those without: length of stay 25.0 vs. 11.8 days, 30-day mortality 13.6% vs. 9.0%, 1-year mortality 40.0% vs. 26.0%, 1-year mortality or re-admission 62.4% vs. 51.5%, respectively (all p < 0.01). There was relatively little difference by cognitive spectrum disorder type; for example, the presence of any cognitive spectrum disorder was associated with an increased mortality over the entire period of follow-up, but with different temporal patterns depending on the type of cognitive spectrum disorder. The cost of admission was higher for those with cognitive spectrum disorders, but the average daily cost was lower.

Limitations

A lack of diagnosis and/or standardisation of diagnosis for dementia and/or delirium was a limitation for the systematic review, the quantitative study and the economic study. The economic study was limited to in-hospital costs as data for social or informal care costs were unavailable. The survey was conducted online, limiting its reach to older carers and those people with cognitive spectrum disorders.

Conclusions

Cognitive spectrum disorders are common in older inpatients and are associated with considerably worse health-care outcomes, with significant overlap between individual cognitive spectrum disorders. This suggests the need for health-care systems to systematically identify and develop care pathways for older people with cognitive spectrum disorders, and avoid focusing on only condition-specific pathways.

Future work

Development and evaluation of a multidomain intervention for the management of patients with cognitive spectrum disorders in hospital.

Study registration

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42015024492.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 9, No. 8. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Cost Analysis of a Dedicated Outpatient Clinic in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess healthcare utilization costs of a dedicated outpatient clinic for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS

We conducted a registry-based retrospective study in patients with a first-time AF diagnosis from 2009 to 2011 (control group) and 2013 to 2015 (intervention group). The control group had physician-led usual care, and the intervention group received multidisciplinary care. The primary outcome was total costs of AF-related resource utilization. Exploratory outcomes were ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and all-cause mortality. Multiple regression methods were used to control for confounders in the assessment of effects on outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 1552 patients were included, hereof 850 in the intervention group. Total AF-related costs were €2746 for the control group and €3154 for the intervention group, which was not statistically significant. Average outpatient costs were significantly higher in the control group than in the intervention group (€522 vs €344, respectively; P = .003). There was no difference in the number of AF-related hospital admissions and outpatient visits between the control group and the intervention group (incidence risk ratio, 1.03 vs 0.85; and 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.16 vs 0.69-1.05, respectively). There was a trend toward reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.16) in the intervention group, which was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Total expenses for AF-related hospital resource utilization in the intervention group were higher, but the expenses for AF-related outpatient visits were significantly lower. There was a trend toward lower all-cause mortality in the intervention group, although the differences were not statistically significant. More research is needed investigating whether a multidisciplinary AF clinic is cost-effective.

Did Expanded Dental Insurance Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenditures on Dental Care among Older Adults in Korea? Interrupted Time-Series Analysis

The Korean National Health Insurance extended its coverage to reduce the economic burden of receiving dentures and implants for older adults in 2012 and 2014, respectively. We examined whether the new policy resulted in reduced out-of-pocket dental care expenditure in the eligible population, specifically focusing on low-income adults. We used interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA), a quasi-experimental design, to identify the effects of the policy among persons aged 65 or older. Data were extracted from the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP; 2008–2017). The main outcome was out-of-pocket expenditures on dental care. The ITSA showed that expenditures decreased annually by 4.5% (RR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95–0.96) between 2012 and 2014. However, expenditure increased by 7.8% (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.07–1.08) after 2014. Dental insurance coverage did not contribute to reducing the out-of-pocket expenses for dentures among low-income adults, while coverage of dental implants led to an increase in dental expenditure.

Impacts of Adherence to Evidence-Based Medicine Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain on Costs of Worker's Compensation Claims

OBJECTIVE

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's (ACOEM's) evidence-based guidelines for acute low back pain (LBP) were used to assess relationships between guideline adherence and worker's compensation costs.

METHODS

Treatments at first appointments were abstracted. Two scoring tools were utilized to assess each patient's treatment plan. One score assessed ACOEM Guideline compliance while the second utilized mean expert scores of the perceived value of each treatment. Claim costs were log-transformed and compared with scores.

RESULTS

There is a significant trend between increased compliance and decreasing costs. Medical and total costs trended lower by an average $352.90 and $586.20 per unit of compliance score respectively. No outlier cost claims were in the best guidelines compliance groups.

CONCLUSION

This study shows a statistically significant trend in the relationship between adherence to ACOEM guidelines for initial management of work-related LBP and decreasing claim costs.

Impact of insurance type on national variation in cost of endovascular treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Identifying drivers of nationwide variation in healthcare costs could help reduce overall cost. Endovascular treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms (ETUCR) is an elective neurointerventional procedure that allows for detailed analysis of cost variation. This study aimed to investigate the role of insurance type in cost variation of ETUCR.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing ETUCR was done. Demographic and hospital data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample 2012-2015. Multivariate analysis was done using a generalized linear model. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition was performed to identify factors driving cost variation.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in median cost ($25 331.82 vs $25 825.25, respectively, P<0.001) as well as length of stay (P<0.001) and complications (P<0.001) between patients with private insurance and Medicare. In multivariate analysis, insurance type was not predictive of increased cost. Among patients aged 65-75 years there was a higher median cost with private insurance compared to Medicare ($28 373.85 vs $25 558.25, respectively, P<0.001) but no difference in complications or length of stay. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition showed higher marginal costs associated with private insurance patients at hospitals with greater endovascular operative volume (P=0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients aged 65-75 years, private insurance is associated with higher costs compared to Medicare; however, insurance type is not predictive of increased cost in multivariate analysis. Differential treatment of private insurance and Medicare patients at hospitals with greater operative volume seems to influence this difference, likely due to differential reimbursement schemes that lead to weaker cost controls.

Lung-Protective Ventilation and Associated Outcomes and Costs Among Patients Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in the ED

BACKGROUND

Invasive mechanical ventilation is often initiated in the ED, and mechanically ventilated patients may be kept in the ED for hours before ICU transfer. Although lung-protective ventilation is beneficial, particularly in ARDS, it remains uncertain how often lung-protective tidal volumes are used in the ED, and whether lung-protective ventilation in this setting impacts patient outcomes.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the association between the use of lung-protective ventilation in the ED and outcomes among invasively ventilated patients?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis (2011-2017) of a prospective registry from eight EDs enrolling consecutive adult patients (≥ 18 years) who received invasive mechanical ventilation in the ED was performed. Lung-protective ventilation was defined by use of tidal volumes ≤ 8 mL/kg predicted body weight. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included development of ARDS, hospital length of stay, and total hospital costs.

RESULTS

The study included 4,174 patients, of whom 2,437 (58.4%) received lung-protective ventilation in the ED. Use of lung-protective ventilation was associated with decreased odds of hospital death (adjusted OR [aOR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.96) and development of ARDS (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.92). Patients who received lung-protective ventilation in the ED had shorter median duration of mechanical ventilation (4 vs 5 days; P < 0.01), shorter median hospital length of stay (11 vs 14 days; P < .001), and reduced total hospital costs (Can$44,348 vs Can$52,484 [US$34,153 vs US$40,418]; P = .03) compared with patients who received higher tidal volumes.

INTERPRETATION

Use of lung-protective ventilation in the ED was associated with important patient- and system-centered outcomes, including lower hospital mortality, decreased incidence of ARDS, lower hospital length of stay, and decreased total costs. Protocol development promoting the regular use of lung-protective ventilation in the ED may be of value.

Methicillin-susceptible and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Nationwide Estimates of 30-Day Readmission, In-hospital Mortality, Length of Stay, and Cost in the United States

BACKGROUND

Information on outcomes of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA, respectively) bacteremia, particularly readmission, is scarce and requires further research to inform optimal patient care.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis using the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database, capturing 49.3% of US hospitalizations. We identified MSSA and MRSA bacteremia using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification among patients aged ≥18 years. Thirty-day readmission, mortality, length of stay, and costs were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression, and generalized linear model with gamma distribution and log link, respectively.

RESULTS

Of 92 089 (standard error [SE], 1905) patients with S. aureus bacteremia, 48.5% (SE, 0.4%) had MRSA bacteremia. Thirty-day readmission rate was 22% (SE, 0.3) overall with no difference between MRSA and MSSA, but MRSA bacteremia had more readmission for bacteremia recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.17 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.02-1.34]), higher in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.07-1.23]), and longer hospitalization (incidence rate ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.06-1.11]). Readmission with bacteremia recurrence was particularly more common among patients with endocarditis, immunocompromising comorbidities, and drug abuse. The cost of readmission was $12 425 (SE, $174) per case overall, and $19 186 (SE, $623) in those with bacteremia recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Thirty-day readmission after S. aureus bacteremia is common and costly. MRSA bacteremia is associated with readmission for bacteremia recurrence, increased mortality, and longer hospitalization. Efforts should continue to optimize patient care, particularly for those with risk factors, to decrease readmission and associated morbidity and mortality in patients with S. aureus bacteremia.

Association of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass With Postoperative Health Care Use and Expenditures in Canada

Importance

Results of previous studies are mixed regarding the economic implications of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Objective

To assess the 5-year incremental health care use and expenditures after RYGB.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cohort study conducted in Ontario, Canada, used a difference-in-differences approach to compare health care use and expenditures between patients who underwent a publicly funded RYGB from March 1, 2010, to March 31, 2013, and propensity score-matched control individuals who did not undergo a surgical bariatric procedure. The study period allowed for a minimum 60 months of follow-up because, at that time, the most recent date for which administrative data on health care and expenditures were available was March 31, 2018. Data sources included the Ontario Bariatric Registry linked to several Ontario health administrative databases and the Electronic Medical Record Administrative Data Linked Database. Health care use and expenditures data for 5 years before and 5 years after the index date (procedure date for RYGB group; random date for controls) were analyzed. Data analyses were performed March 12, 2019, to March 10, 2020.

Intervention

RYGB procedure.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was total health care expenditures.

Results

The final propensity score-matched cohorts comprised 1587 individuals in the RYGB group (mean [SD] age, 47 [10.2] years) and 1587 controls (mean [SD] age, 47 [12.2] years); each group had 1228 women (77.4%) and a mean body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 46. Mean total health care expenditures (2017 Canadian dollars) per patient in the RYGB group increased from CAD $15 594 (95% CI, CAD $14 743 to CAD $16 614) (US $12 008 [95% CI, US $11 353 to US $12 794]) in the 5 years before the procedure to CAD $30 389 (95% CI, CAD $28 789 to CAD $32 232) (US $23 401 [95% CI, US $22 169 to US $24 821]) over the 5 years after the procedure, a difference of CAD $14 795 (95% CI, CAD $13 172 to CAD $16 480) (US $11 393 [95% CI, US $10 143 to US $12 691]). For the control group, mean total health care expenditures per individual increased from CAD $16 109 (95% CI, CAD $14 727 to CAD $17 591) (US $12 405 [95% CI, US $11 341 to US $13 546]) 5 years before the index date to CAD $20 073 (95% CI, CAD $18 147 to CAD $22 169) (US $15 457 [95% CI, US $13 974 to US $17 071]) 5 years after the date, a difference of CAD $3964 (95% CI, CAD $2250 to CAD $5875) (US $3053 [95% CI, US $1733 to US $4524]). Overall, the difference-in-differences estimate of the net cost of RYGB was CAD $10 831 (95% CI, CAD $8252 to CAD $13 283) (US $8341 [95% CI, $6355 to $10 229]) over the 5-year period. This amount excluded the mean (SD) cost associated with the index date: CAD $6501 (CAD $1087) (US $5006 [US $837]) for the RYGB cohort and CAD $9 (CAD $72) (US $7 [US $55]) for the controls. The cost differential was primarily associated with increased hospitalizations in the first months immediately after RYGB. Expenditures leveled off in year 3 after the index date; differences in total expenditures between the RYGB and control cohorts were not statistically significantly different in years 4 and 5.

Conclusions and Relevance

Health care expenditures in the 3 years after publicly funded RYGB were higher in patients who underwent the procedure than in control individuals, but the costs were similar thereafter. This finding suggests the need to decrease hospital and emergency department readmissions after surgical bariatric procedures because such use is associated with increased spending.

Enhanced Recovery Implementation and Perioperative Outcomes in Posterior Fusion Patients

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine if there was an association between enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) implementation level and complication risk, length of stay, and cost of hospitalization.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

ERAS protocols aim to minimize the stress response of surgery by promoting early mobilization, oral intake, as well as improvement of analgesia. Implementation of ERAS protocols in spine surgeries has been limited to mostly single-institution studies, and no population-based data exist on the impact of the level of implementation of various ERAS components on outcomes.

METHODS

In this study we identified 265,576 posterior lumbar fusion surgeries from 2006 to 2016. The main effect was the application of eight ERAS-related practices: (1) multimodal analgesia, (2) tranexamic acid, (3) antiemetics, (4) steroids, (5) early physical therapy, (6) avoidance of urinary catheters, (7) avoidance of patient-controlled analgesia, (8) avoidance of wound drains. Patients were classified by levels of ERAS implementation: "High," "Medium," and "Low" ERAS implementation if they received more than five, three to five, or less than three ERAS components, respectively. Mixed-effects models measured associations between ERAS implementation categories and complications, length and cost of hospitalization; odds ratios (OR, or average ratios for continuous outcomes), and 99.4% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.

RESULTS

Overall, 13.3%, 62.8%, and 24.4% of cases were categorized as "High," "Medium," and "Low" ERAS implementation, respectively. After adjusting for study variables, "Medium" and "High" (compared with "Low") ERAS implementation levels were significantly associated with incrementally improved outcomes regarding "any complication" (OR 0.84 CI 0.80-0.88 and OR 0.77 CI 0.71-0.84), cardiopulmonary complications (OR 0.75 CI 0.68-0.73 and OR 0.69 CI 0.59-0.80), length of stay (average ratio 0. 94 CI 0.93-0.94 and average ratio 0.91 CI 0.90-0.91), and hospitalization cost (average ratio 0.99 CI 0.98-0.99 and average ratio OR 0.95 0.95-0.96).

CONCLUSION

In a cohort undergoing posterior lumbar spine fusion the level of utilization of ERAS protocol components was independently associated with incrementally improved complication odds as well as reduced length of stay and a small decrease in overall hospitalization cost.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Attributing medical spending to conditions: A comparison of methods

To understand the cost burden of medical care it is essential to partition medical spending into conditions. Two broad strategies have been used to measure disease-specific spending. The first attributes each medical claim to the condition that physicians list as its cause. The second decomposes total spending for a person over a year to their cumulative set of health conditions. Traditionally, this has been done through regression analysis. This paper has two contributions. First, we develop a new cost attribution method to attribute spending to conditions using a more flexible attribution approach, based on propensity score analysis. Second, we compare the propensity score approach to the claims-based approach and the regression approach in a common set of beneficiaries age 65 and older in the 2009 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Our estimates show that the three methods have important differences in spending allocation and that the propensity score model likely offers the best theoretical and empirical combination.

Out of pocket expenditures of patients with a chronic condition consulting a primary care provider in Tajikistan: a cross-sectional household survey

BACKGROUND

Within its reform efforts, the Government of Tajikistan is embracing the essential role of primary health care (PHC) in decreasing out of pocket (OOP) expenditures and increasing equity in access to health services. In the light of the increasing burden of disease relating to chronic conditions, we investigated OOP expenditures of patients with chronic conditions within a PHC setting; and if and how those expenditures are impacted by several interventions currently being implemented within Tajikistan.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey among 1600 adult patients who had visited a PHC facility was conducted. The data obtained through interviews were descriptively analysed, and logistic regressions and gamma generalized linear models were performed.

RESULTS

The total OOP expenditures related to a patient's last visit to the PHC facility were 17.2 USD for those with chronic conditions and 13.9 USD for those visiting due to an acute condition. Adjustment for potential confounders reduced the discrepancy from 3.3 USD to 0.5 USD. This convergence of costs was only observed in districts covered by the Basic Benefit Package (BBP), a governmental pilot project, aiming to standardise exemptions for payment and formal co-payments for health care services. Hence, we found the BBP to have a protective impact for patients with chronic conditions. However, considering the demographics of these patients (older in age, with greater dependency on pensions and social aid, and lower socio-economic status) in combination with the 40% higher utilisation rate of PHC and the high rate of onward referrals to specialists; it is clear that patients with chronic conditions continue to face substantial long-term costs and disadvantages.

CONCLUSIONS

After accounting for confounders, patients with chronic and acute conditions faced similar costs related to a single visit to a PHC facility in districts covered by the BBP. However, greater efforts are required to ensure that citizens are well informed about their rights to health care, the BBP and the services that should be provided at no cost at the point of delivery. Moreover, the needs of patients with chronic conditions warrant a more integrative approach that takes long-term expenditures and services beyond the level of PHC into account.

Determinants of healthcare seeking and out-of-pocket expenditures in a "free" healthcare system: evidence from rural Malawi

BACKGROUND

Monitoring financial protection is a key component in achieving Universal Health Coverage, even for health systems that grant their citizens access to care free-of-charge. Our study investigated out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on curative healthcare services and their determinants in rural Malawi, a country that has consistently aimed at providing free healthcare services.

METHODS

Our study used data from two consecutive rounds of a household survey conducted in 2012 and 2013 among 1639 households in three districts in rural Malawi. Given our explicit focus on OOPE for curative healthcare services, we relied on a Heckman selection model to account for the fact that relevant OOPE could only be observed for those who had sought care in the first place.

RESULTS

Our sample included a total of 2740 illness episodes. Among the 1884 (68.75%) that had made use of curative healthcare services, 494 (26.22%) had incurred a positive healthcare expenditure, whose mean amounted to 678.45 MWK (equivalent to 2.72 USD). Our analysis revealed a significant positive association between the magnitude of OOPE and age 15-39 years (p = 0.022), household head (p = 0.037), suffering from a chronic illness (p = 0.019), illness duration (p = 0.014), hospitalization (p = 0.002), number of accompanying persons (p = 0.019), wealth quartiles (p₂ = 0.018; p₃ = 0.001; p₄ = 0.002), and urban residency (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that a formal policy commitment to providing free healthcare services is not sufficient to guarantee widespread financial protection and that additional measures are needed to protect particularly vulnerable population groups.

Does affordability matter? Examining the trends and patterns in health care expenditure in India

BACKGROUND

Absence of better financing mechanism results in higher out of pocket expenditure and catastrophe, which leads to impoverishment and poverty especially among low- and middle-income countries like India. This paper examines the major characteristics associated with the higher out of pocket expenditure and provides an insight from Andersen's behavioural model that how predisposing, enabling and need factors influence the level and pattern of out of pocket expenditure in India.

METHODS

Data has been extracted from three rounds of nationally representative consumer expenditure surveys, i.e. 1993-1994, 2004-2005 and 2011-2012 conducted by the Government of India. States were categorized based on regional classification, and adult equivalent scale was used to adjust the household size. Multiple Generalized-Linear-Regression-Model was employed to explore the relative effect of various socio-economic covariates on the level of out of pocket expenditure.

RESULTS

The gap has widened between advantaged and disadvantaged segment of the population along with noticeable regional disparities among Indian states. Generalized-Linear-Regression-Model indicates that the most influential predisposing and enabling factor determining the level of out of pocket expenditure were age composition, religion, social-group, household type, residence, economic status, sources of cooking and lighting arrangements among the households.

CONCLUSIONS

Present study suggests the need for strengthening the affordability mechanism of the households to cope with the excessive burden of health care payments. Furthermore, special consideration is required to accommodate the needs of the elderly, rural, backward states and impoverishment segment of population to reduce the unjust burden of out of pocket expenditure in India.

Healthcare resource utilization in myeloproliferative neoplasms: a population-based study from Ontario, Canada

Health resource utilization (HRU) and associated factors of high cost are not well understood in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In this population-based, retrospective matched-cohort study, we used administrative health databases of Ontario, Canada to measure treatment costs and HRU for patients with MPN from 2004 to 2016 and compared them to matched controls. In 7130 patients with MPN [essential thrombocythemia (ET) = 3481; polycythemia vera (PV) = 2618; myelofibrosis (MF) = 1031], the mean annualized treatment costs were $16,646 for ET (controls, $7070); $16,360 for PV (controls, $7293); and $25,863 for MF (controls, $7386). Out of the total costs, the largest expenditure was on acute hospital care (ET: 57%, PV: 57%, MF: 66%). Older age (≥65), male gender, patients not seen by a specialist, and greater comorbidity burden were independent predictors of higher costs (p < 0.05). In addition, history of venous thrombosis in patients with ET and PV was associated with significantly higher treatment costs (p < 0.05).

Frailty and Associated Outcomes and Resource Utilization Among Older ICU Patients With Suspected Infection

OBJECTIVES

Suspected infection and sepsis are common conditions seen among older ICU patients. Frailty has prognostic importance among critically ill patients, but its impact on outcomes and resource utilization in older patients with suspected infection is unknown. We sought to evaluate the association between patient frailty (defined as a Clinical Frailty Scale ≥ 5) and outcomes of critically ill patients with suspected infection. We also evaluated the association between frailty and the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score.

DESIGN

Analysis of a prospectively collected registry.

SETTING

Two hospitals within a single tertiary care level hospital system between 2011 and 2016.

PATIENTS

We analyzed 1,510 patients 65 years old or older (at the time of ICU admission) and with suspected infection at the time of ICU admission. Of these, 507 (33.6%) were categorized as "frail" (Clinical Frailty Scale ≥ 5).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. A total of 558 patients (37.0%) died in-hospital. Frailty was associated with increased risk of in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio, 1.81 [95% CIs, 1.34-2.49]). Frailty was also associated with higher likelihood of discharge to long-term care (adjusted odds ratio, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.50-2.64]) and higher likelihood of readmission within 30 days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.38-2.34]). Frail patients had increased ICU resource utilization and total costs. The combination of frailty and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment greater than or equal to 2 further increased the risk of death (adjusted odds ratio, 7.54 [95% CI, 5.82-9.90]).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of frailty among older ICU patients with suspected infection is associated with increased mortality, discharge to long-term care, hospital readmission, resource utilization, and costs. This work highlights the importance of clinical frailty in risk stratification of older ICU patients with suspected infection.