COVID-19 medical care direct costs during the first year of pandemic in a hospital converted for increasing bed capacity.

Marisol Torres-Toledano, Víctor Granados-García, José de Jesús López-Tapia, Elizabeth T Miguel-Tiburcio, Yvonne N Flores, Belkis Aracena-Genao, Paula Ramírez-Palacios

Journal: Gaceta medica de Mexico 2023;159(3):171-179

PMID: 37494712

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 health emergency caused an increase in the demand for hospitalization and high costs for the health system.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate COVID-19 care direct costs from the perspective of the healthcare provider in a secondary care hospital that underwent conversion during the first year of health emergency.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective, observational study. Information on quantities of goods and services was obtained from the SINOLAVE and CVOED platforms and from hospital administrative sources. Four cost groups were defined and estimated with 2021 unit prices in US dollars.

RESULTS

Mean hospital length of stay (n = 3,241 patients) was 10.8 ± 8.2 days. Average cost of care per patient was USD 6,557 ± 4,997. Respiratory therapy with assisted mechanical ventilation was used by 13% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The costs of COVID-19 medical care represent a large amount of resources. Most part of the costs (95%) were derived from hospital stay, respiratory therapy without assisted mechanical ventilation and costs related to personal protective equipment, hygiene, infrastructure adaptation and payments to medical personnel.

Address: Internal Medicine Department, Zone 58 General Hospital, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, State of Mexico, Mexico.; Epidemiologic and Health Services Research Unit, Aging Area, Health Research Coordination, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico.; Director's Office, Zone 76 General Hospital with Family Medicine Unit, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, State of Mexico, Mexico.; Emergency Department, Zone 76 General Hospital with Family Medicine Unit, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, State of Mexico, Mexico.; Morelos Epidemiologic and Health Services Research Unit, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Morelos, México.; Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.; Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research-Kaiser-Permanente Center for Health Equity, Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.; Centro de Investigación en Nutrición y Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Morelos, México

DOI: 10.24875/GMM.M23000768

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https://medlineplus.gov/covid19coronavirusdisease2...

MeSH Terms: Humans, Retrospective Studies, Pandemics, COVID-19, Health Care Costs, Hospitals