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Hospital costs of COVID-19, post-COVID-19 condition and other viral pneumonias: a cost comparison analysis
Danielle Hitch1,2, Mary Rose Angeles1, Eric Lau1
1Deakin University, Geelong, VIC.
Insights
Hospital admissions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cost 29% more than other viral pneumonias. Post-COVID-19 condition admissions also present a significant financial burden on Australian hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented unique challenges to healthcare systems globally.
- Understanding the economic impact of COVID-19 hospital admissions is crucial for resource allocation and financial planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hospital admission costs for COVID-19 with those for other viral pneumonias in Australia.
- To describe the hospital admission costs associated with post-COVID-19 condition.
Main Methods:
- A cost comparison analysis was conducted on hospital admissions between January 2020 and June 2021 in Victorian public health services.
- Data included demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes (ICU admission, ventilation, length of stay), and various cost metrics.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 admissions were 29% more expensive than other viral pneumonia admissions.
- COVID-19 intensive care unit admissions incurred substantially higher costs (A$120,504) compared to non-ICU admissions (A$19,634).
- Post-COVID-19 condition admissions cost A$11,090 and were more likely to be elective, with lower allied health service utilization.
Conclusions:
- Acute COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 conditions have imposed a significant financial impact on Australian hospitals.
- Further research is needed to understand long-term costs and trends, considering vaccination rates and evolving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants.
Objectives:
To compare hospital admission costs for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to hospital admission costs for other viral pneumonia cases in Australia, and to describe hospital admission costs for post-COVID-19 condition.
Design, Setting, Participants:
A cost comparison analysis of hospital admissions due to COVID-19 or other viral pneumonias between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 at Victorian public health acute and subacute services.
Main Outcome Measures:
Demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes (including diagnoses, impairment, subacute admission, intensive care unit admissions, ventilation, and length of stay) and cost data (including diagnostic-related groups, and total, direct and indirect costs).
Results:
During the study period, 3197 patients were admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 and 15 761 were admitted for other viral pneumonias. Admissions for COVID-19 cost 29% more than admissions for other viral pneumonias. Admissions for COVID-19 requiring intensive care unit admission incurred significantly higher mean costs (A$120 504 or US$90 595) compared with those not requiring intensive care unit admission (A$19 634 or US$14 761). The adjusted cost of admissions related to post-COVID-19 condition was A$11 090 or US$8 337, and these admissions were significantly more likely to be elective. Direct costs accounted for most of the costs for all groups, and admissions for post-COVID-19 condition used less allied health services than other groups.
Conclusions:
Given its recent emergence, cases of acute COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 condition have had a significant additional financial impact on Australian hospitals. Further studies are required to understand long term costs and identify trends over time in the context of increased vaccination rates and subsequent variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
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