Anja Nordermoen1, Dag Bratlid. 1. Det medisinske fakultet, Medisinsk-teknisk forskningssenter, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Trondheim, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The cost of treating premature infants is increasing due to use of advanced medical technology and rising labour costs. Few Norwegian studies have been published in the field. This study has assessed treatment costs for very-low-birth-weight infants in St. Olavs University Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Children born in 1997 or 2007 were studied retrospectively. Individual costs (diagnostics and treatment) were estimated from detailed analysis of each patient's daily medical record. General daily costs (salary, equipment etc.) for treatment levels 1 (growth and development), 2 (observation) and 3 (intensive treatment) were estimated from department and hospital budgets. RESULTS: The total mean treatment cost from admission to discharge was 603,238 NOK per patient in 2007, an increase from 475,131 NOK in 1997. As more infants survived without serious complications in 2007, the cost of a surviving healthy infant was actually lower in 2007 (922,599 NOK) than in 1997 (1,135,035 NOK). DRG reimbursements cover the cost for treating children with a birth weight in the range 1000 - 1499 g, but not for those weighing < 1000 g. INTERPRETATION: Very-low-birth-weight infants are probably the most expensive patient group treated in hospitals; the total cost in 2007 was (mean) 900,000 NOK.
BACKGROUND: The cost of treating premature infants is increasing due to use of advanced medical technology and rising labour costs. Few Norwegian studies have been published in the field. This study has assessed treatment costs for very-low-birth-weight infants in St. Olavs University Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Children born in 1997 or 2007 were studied retrospectively. Individual costs (diagnostics and treatment) were estimated from detailed analysis of each patient's daily medical record. General daily costs (salary, equipment etc.) for treatment levels 1 (growth and development), 2 (observation) and 3 (intensive treatment) were estimated from department and hospital budgets. RESULTS: The total mean treatment cost from admission to discharge was 603,238 NOK per patient in 2007, an increase from 475,131 NOK in 1997. As more infants survived without serious complications in 2007, the cost of a surviving healthy infant was actually lower in 2007 (922,599 NOK) than in 1997 (1,135,035 NOK). DRG reimbursements cover the cost for treating children with a birth weight in the range 1000 - 1499 g, but not for those weighing < 1000 g. INTERPRETATION: Very-low-birth-weight infants are probably the most expensive patient group treated in hospitals; the total cost in 2007 was (mean) 900,000 NOK.
Authors: Linda Englund-Ögge; Anne Lise Brantsæter; Margareta Haugen; Verena Sengpiel; Ali Khatibi; Ronny Myhre; Solveig Myking; Helle Margrete Meltzer; Marian Kacerovsky; Roy M Nilsen; Bo Jacobsson Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2012-08-01 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Dino Numerato; Giovanni Fattore; Fabrizio Tediosi; Rinaldo Zanini; Mikko Peltola; Helen Banks; Péter Mihalicza; Liisa Lehtonen; Sofia Sveréus; Richard Heijink; Søren Toksvig Klitkou; Eilidh Fletcher; Amber van der Heijden; Fredrik Lundberg; Eelco Over; Unto Häkkinen; Timo T Seppälä Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-29 Impact factor: 3.240