COVID-19 related hospitalization costs; assessment of influencing factors

Mohammad  Haji Aghajani; Mohammad Sistanizad; Amirmohammad Toloui; Arian  Madani Neishaboori; Asma Pourhoseingholi; Ali Maher; Ziba Asadpoordezaki; Reza Miri; Mahmoud Yousefifard

doi:10.18502/fem.v6i1.7675

Mohammad Haji Aghajani Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Sistanizad Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amirmohammad Toloui Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Arian Madani Neishaboori Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Asma Pourhoseingholi Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali Maher Department of Health Policy, Economics and Management, School of Management and Medical Education, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ziba Asadpoordezaki Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland.
Reza Miri Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahmoud Yousefifard Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/fem.v6i1.7675

Keywords: Cardiovascular Diseases; COVID-19; Effective Factors; Hospitalization Costs

Abstract

Objective: Our aim is to assess the effective factors on hospitalization costs of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Data related to clinical characteristics and cost of hospitalized COVID-19 patients from February 2020 until July 2020, in a public teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran was gathered in a retrospective cohort study. The corresponding factors influencing the diagnostic and therapeutic costs were evaluated, using a generalized linear model.

Results: The median COVID-19 related diagnostic and therapeutic costs in a public teaching hospital in Iran, for one hospitalized COVID-19 patient was equal to 271.1 US dollars (USD). In patients who were discharged alive from the hospital, the costs increased with patients’ pregnancy (P<0.001), loss of consciousness during hospitalization (P<0.001), a history of drug abuse (P=0.006), history of chronic renal disease (P<0.001), end stage renal disease (P=0.002), history of brain surgery (P=0.001), history of migraine (P=0.001), cardiomegaly (P=0.033) and occurrence of myocardial infarction during hospitalization (P<0.001). In deceased patients, low age P<0.001), history of congenital disease (P=0.024) and development of cardiac dysrhythmias during hospitalization (P=0.044) were related to increase in therapeutic costs.

Conclusion: Median diagnostic and therapeutic costs in COVID-19 patients, hospitalized in a public teaching hospital in Iran were 271.1 USD. Hoteling and medications made up most of the costs. History of cardiovascular disease and new onset episodes of such complications during hospitalization were the most important factors contributing to the increase of therapeutic costs. Moreover, pregnancy, loss of consciousness, and renal diseases are of other independent factors affecting hospitalization costs in COVID-19 patients.