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Utilization of health care resources after stroke. A population-based study of 258 hospitalized cases followed during
1Department of Community Health Science, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Stroke patients utilized significant healthcare resources, with major strokes costing 3.5 times more than minor ones. Geriatric care comprised the majority of hospital bed days post-stroke.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, necessitating extensive healthcare resource utilization.
- Understanding post-stroke healthcare patterns is crucial for effective resource allocation and patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze healthcare resource utilization and rehabilitation outcomes in stroke patients.
- To determine the cost implications of stroke care over the first year post-onset.
- To investigate the influence of stroke severity and patient age on resource utilization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, population-based study of 258 consecutive stroke patients.
- Analysis of healthcare resource utilization (hospital beds, non-hospital facilities) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-stroke.
- Cost analysis based on 1986 price levels.
Main Results:
- Mean acute hospital bed utilization was 15 days; total hospital bed days averaged 78 days (cost: 87,000 SEK).
- Geriatric care accounted for 64% of hospital beds used before discharge.
- Total healthcare expenditure averaged 106,000 SEK ($14,600), with hospital care 5 times that of non-hospital care.
- Stroke severity significantly impacted utilization; major strokes cost 3.5 times more than minor strokes. Age also influenced utilization.
Conclusions:
- Stroke care involves substantial healthcare resource utilization, with geriatric care playing a major role.
- Stroke severity is a key determinant of healthcare costs and resource needs.
- Further research into optimizing rehabilitation and care pathways for stroke survivors is warranted.
Abstract:
In a prospective population-based study the cumulative utilization of health care resources (and the rehabilitation outcome) was followed in consecutive stroke patients 3, 6 and 12 months after the onset of the disease. The study group comprised 258 patients diseased during the period February 1st 1986-January 31th 1987. The pattern of various forms of hospital beds and non-hospital facilities in open care utilized during the first post-stroke year was analysed at 1986 year's cost level. The mean utilization of acute hospital beds during the initial phase was 15 days; at an expenditure cost of 26,670 SEK ($3,683). The mean utilization of acute hospital and of geriatric beds during the first year was 19 and 59 days respectively. Thus the total hospital bed days amounted to a mean of 78 days; at a mean expenditure of 87,0000 SEK ($12,000); 70% of the patients were discharged from hospital care to independent living after 36 days. The acute care hospital provided 36% and geriatric care 64% of the beds needed before discharge. The expenditure of non-hospital facilities was mean 19,000 SEK ($2600); thus total expenditure for health care amounted to 106,000 SEK ($14,600). The relation between non-hospital and hospital care was approximately 1 to 5. Severity of the stroke influenced markedly the pattern and the total utilization of both hospital and non-hospital care. Patients with major stroke utilized health care resources at an expenditure 3.5 times that used by patients with minor stroke. Age of the patient also influenced health care utilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)