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[Costs for treatment of very-low-birth-weight infants]
1Det medisinske fakultet, Medisinsk-teknisk forskningssenter, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Trondheim, Norway.
Insights
The cost of treating very-low-birth-weight infants increased overall, but the cost per healthy surviving infant decreased between 1997 and 2007 due to improved medical care. These infants represent a significant hospital cost.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Health economics
- Pediatric intensive care
Context:
- Rising costs of advanced medical technology and labor impact premature infant treatment.
- Limited Norwegian research exists on the economic aspects of neonatal intensive care.
- St. Olavs University Hospital's treatment costs for very-low-birth-weight infants were assessed.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the treatment costs for very-low-birth-weight infants in a Norwegian hospital.
- To compare these costs between infants born in 1997 and 2007.
- To analyze the economic implications of improved survival rates.
Summary:
- Mean treatment costs per patient increased from 475,131 NOK in 1997 to 603,238 NOK in 2007.
- Despite overall cost increases, the cost for a healthy surviving infant decreased from 1,135,035 NOK in 1997 to 922,599 NOK in 2007.
- Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) reimbursements adequately cover costs for infants weighing 1000-1499g but not those below 1000g.
Impact:
- Very-low-birth-weight infants are likely the most expensive patient group, with a mean cost of 900,000 NOK in 2007.
- Improved survival rates without serious complications reduce the long-term cost per healthy infant.
- Current reimbursement structures may not fully cover the treatment costs for the most vulnerable premature infants.
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.
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