[Analysis of treatment costs for pneumoconiosis patients in Hunan Province]

Objective: To explore the level and influencing factors of treatment costs for patients with pneumoconiosis, and to provide a basis for reducing the economic burden of patients with pneumoconiosis and optimizing the rational allocation of medical resources. Methods: In August 2020, the multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to obtain the treatment cost information of pneumoconiosis patients from January to December 2018 in 1123 sample medical institutions. The average cost per time of 2178 outpatients and 7425 inpatients was described, and the differences in the distribution of hospitalization costs for patients with pneumoconiosis were compared by one-way analysis of variance, and a multiple linear regression model was constructed to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization costs for patients with pneumoconiosis. Results: The average cost of outpatients with pneumoconiosis was 465.88 yuan, and the average cost of inpatients was 12280.63 yuan. There were statistically significant differences in hospitalization expenses among different age, institution level, institution type, length of hospital stay and type of insured (F=10.49, 402.92, 416.35, 2390.48, 1298.14, P<0.001) . Age, length of hospital stay, reimbursement ratio, and institution level were influencing factors of the total hospitalization expenses of patients with pneumoconiosis (t=5.27, 62.20, 22.35, 21.20, P<0.001) . Conclusion: Patients with pneumoconiosis have a heavy burden of treatment costs. Age, length of hospital stay, institution level and reimbursement ratio are the main influencing factors of hospitalization costs. It is recommended to strengthen the prevention and treatment of key populations, standardize the use of medical insurance, and promote the rational allocation of medical resource to reduce the cost burden of pneumoconiosis patients.

[Economic evaluation of treatments under dental general anesthesia and protective stabilization]

Objective: To conduct economic evaluation of treatments under dental general anesthesia (DGA) and protective stabilization (PS), in order to compare the cost and the final therapeutic effect of these two treatments. Methods: Retrospectively studied twenty-six 2 to 4 years old patients treated under DGA and twenty-seven treated under PS in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. The general information, treatment information and total treatment cost information of patients were collected. The cost and cost-survival time ratio of the two groups were compared in units of people and tooth respectively. When compared in unit of people, patients were divided into two groups depending on the number of teeth treated, when compared in unit of tooth, teeth were divided into two groups depending on the treatment received, i.e. restoration or root canal treatment. In addition, we recalculated and compared two groups under the assumption that the treatment charges of DGA was consistent with common outpatient charges. Results: The tooth average cost and cost-survival time ratio of each patient in DGA group which were [(1 133.87±87.37) yuan] and [3.51 (1.30, 5.72) yuan/d] respectively were significantly higher than those in PS group which were [(303.81±155.34) yuan] and [1.54 (0.95, 2.13) yuan/d] respectively (P<0.01). The number of teeth and the way of treatments wouldn't change the result. The recalculated result of the cost-survival time ratio of each patient in DGA group [1.63 (0.72, 2.55) yuan/d] and PS group [1.54 (0.95, 2.13) yuan/d] showed no significant difference (P=0.455). Conclusions: Patients treated in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology showed a significant higher cost and cost-survival time radio in DGA group than that in PS group. If the treatment charges of DGA group was consistent with common outpatient charges, PS group will no longer have economic advantage.