Comparative analysis of service costs in intensive care unit, length of stay and mortality rate before and during the COVID 19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the average length of stay, mortality rates and service costs in intensive care unit provided to patients during October-November-December 2019 (pre-pandemic), with the average length of stay, mortality rates and service costs in intensive care unit during October-November-December 2020 (pandemic). Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional comparative, single-center study. The demographic data (age, gender), average length of stay, mortality and hospital costs of intensive care patients during October-November-December 2019 (pre-pandemic) were compared using the hospital records with the same data of patients in the same intensive care unit during October-November-December 2020 (pandemic), and the factors affecting the cost were investigated. Results: Of the 437 patients included in the study, 233 were hospitali ̇ zed in pre-pandemic period and 204 in pandemic period. Pre-pandemic ̇ period mean age was 65.04 ± 17.0, and pandemic period mean age was 68.07 ± 15.1 years. The majority of the cases in both periods were male (57.9% and 63.2%). Length of stay, cost and mortality rates were significantly higher in the pandemic group (p: 0.000). There was a significant positive correlation between length of stay and cost (p: 0.000). Conclusion: It was found that intensive care costs increased considerably during the COVID 19 period, along with the increases in the length of stay and mortality rates. Advanced age and increase in length of stay were found to be correlated with mortality, but only length of stay was correlated with cost.