Economic impact and disease burden of COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital: A three-year analysis
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.The COVID-19 pandemic cost a Finnish university hospital nearly 29 million € from 2020-2022, with intensive care driving significant expenses. This highlights the substantial economic impact of pandemics on healthcare systems.
Area Of Science
- Healthcare Economics
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Hospital Administration
Background
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant global morbidity, mortality, and economic disruption.
- This study quantifies the financial impact on a major Finnish university hospital during the initial three pandemic years (2020-2022).
Purpose Of The Study
- To comprehensively assess the total economic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on a tertiary care hospital.
- To identify key cost drivers, including direct hospitalization and indirect expenses.
Main Methods
- Retrospective analysis of hospital data from 2020-2022 at a 950-bed tertiary care facility.
- Identification of COVID-19 cases via automated surveillance integrating microbiological and administrative data.
- Collection of patient-level data (demographics, vaccination, outcomes) and financial data (billing, indirect costs, operational data).
Main Results
- Over 2,500 COVID-19 patients were treated; 57% hospitalized primarily for COVID-19 incurred 14.5 million € in direct costs, with 47% attributed to intensive care.
- Total pandemic-related costs, including outpatient visits, screening, isolation, and indirect expenses, reached nearly 29 million €.
- The hospital also experienced income loss from postponed elective surgeries.
Conclusions
- The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a substantial economic burden on the university hospital.
- Intensive care services represented a major component of the pandemic-related costs.
- Findings underscore the need for strategic financial planning and pandemic preparedness in healthcare institutions.
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