Socioeconomic Burden of Critically Ill Patients: A Descriptive Study

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Critical Care Medicine
• Socioeconomic Impact

Background:

• Rising costs of critical illness treatment in India pose a significant challenge.
• Critical illness affects both individual and family socioeconomic status.
• Estimating direct and indirect costs of intensive care is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the socioeconomic burden on critically ill patients and their families in Eastern India.
• To analyze the impact of long-term critical illness on family care providers.
• To quantify the financial and social consequences of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive survey design was employed.
• 115 critically ill patients and their family members were conveniently sampled.
• Socio-demographic and socioeconomic burdens were assessed via interviews.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of critically ill patients (49.6%) were family breadwinners.
• A majority of patients (60.9%) were from lower socioeconomic strata.
• Highest expenses were for pharmaceuticals (₹38169.6±3996.2); families lost significant workdays due to prolonged hospital stays.

Conclusions:

• Critical care hospitalization exacerbates socioeconomic burden, particularly in lower-middle-income countries like India.
• Younger patients from low socioeconomic backgrounds and families reliant on patient income face a disproportionately higher burden.
• The study highlights the need for financial support systems for families affected by critical illness.