Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions
Abstract Background Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions are commonly used to evaluate primary health care performance, as the hospital admission could be avoided if care was timely and adequate. Previous evidence indicates that avoidable hospitalizations carry a substantial dir...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-5071-4 |
| _version_ | 1818981621685026816 |
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| author | João Victor Muniz Rocha Ana Patrícia Marques Bruno Moita Rui Santana |
| author_facet | João Victor Muniz Rocha Ana Patrícia Marques Bruno Moita Rui Santana |
| author_sort | João Victor Muniz Rocha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions are commonly used to evaluate primary health care performance, as the hospital admission could be avoided if care was timely and adequate. Previous evidence indicates that avoidable hospitalizations carry a substantial direct financial burden in some countries. However, no attention has been given to the economic burden on society they represent. The aim of this study is to estimate the direct and lost productivity costs of avoidable hospital admissions in Portugal. Methods Hospitalizations occurring in Portugal in 2015 were analyzed. Avoidable hospitalizations were defined and their associated costs and years of potential life lost were calculated. Direct costs were obtained using official hospitalization prices. For lost productivity, there were estimated costs for absenteeism and premature death. Costs were analyzed by components, by conditions and by variations on estimation parameters. Results The total estimated cost associated with avoidable hospital admissions was €250 million (€2515 per hospitalization), corresponding to 6% of the total budget of public hospitals in Portugal. These hospitalizations led to 109,641 years of potential life lost. Bacterial pneumonia, congestive heart failure and urinary tract infection accounted for 77% of the overall costs. Nearly 82% of avoidable hospitalizations were in patients aged 65 years or older, therefore did not account for the lost productivity costs. Nearly 84% of the total cost comes from the direct cost of the hospitalization. Lost productivity costs are estimated to be around €40 million. Conclusion The age distribution of avoidable hospitalizations had a significant effect on costs components. Not only did hospital admissions have a substantial direct economic impact, they also imposed a considerable economic burden on society. Substantial financial resources could potentially be saved if the country reduced avoidable hospitalizations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:34:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf0bb37ac8e04eceaa3ba7c5aa456c3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:34:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf0bb37ac8e04eceaa3ba7c5aa456c3d2022-12-21T19:31:16ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632020-03-012011910.1186/s12913-020-5071-4Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissionsJoão Victor Muniz Rocha0Ana Patrícia Marques1Bruno Moita2Rui Santana3Universidade Nova de Lisboa Escola Nacional de Saúde Publica LisboaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa Escola Nacional de Saúde Publica LisboaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa Escola Nacional de Saúde Publica LisboaUniversidade Nova de Lisboa Escola Nacional de Saúde Publica LisboaAbstract Background Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions are commonly used to evaluate primary health care performance, as the hospital admission could be avoided if care was timely and adequate. Previous evidence indicates that avoidable hospitalizations carry a substantial direct financial burden in some countries. However, no attention has been given to the economic burden on society they represent. The aim of this study is to estimate the direct and lost productivity costs of avoidable hospital admissions in Portugal. Methods Hospitalizations occurring in Portugal in 2015 were analyzed. Avoidable hospitalizations were defined and their associated costs and years of potential life lost were calculated. Direct costs were obtained using official hospitalization prices. For lost productivity, there were estimated costs for absenteeism and premature death. Costs were analyzed by components, by conditions and by variations on estimation parameters. Results The total estimated cost associated with avoidable hospital admissions was €250 million (€2515 per hospitalization), corresponding to 6% of the total budget of public hospitals in Portugal. These hospitalizations led to 109,641 years of potential life lost. Bacterial pneumonia, congestive heart failure and urinary tract infection accounted for 77% of the overall costs. Nearly 82% of avoidable hospitalizations were in patients aged 65 years or older, therefore did not account for the lost productivity costs. Nearly 84% of the total cost comes from the direct cost of the hospitalization. Lost productivity costs are estimated to be around €40 million. Conclusion The age distribution of avoidable hospitalizations had a significant effect on costs components. Not only did hospital admissions have a substantial direct economic impact, they also imposed a considerable economic burden on society. Substantial financial resources could potentially be saved if the country reduced avoidable hospitalizations.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-5071-4Hospital admissionsAvoidable admissions, ambulatory care sensitive conditionsCost analysis |
| spellingShingle | João Victor Muniz Rocha Ana Patrícia Marques Bruno Moita Rui Santana Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions BMC Health Services Research Hospital admissions Avoidable admissions, ambulatory care sensitive conditions Cost analysis |
| title | Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions |
| title_full | Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions |
| title_fullStr | Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions |
| title_short | Direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions |
| title_sort | direct and lost productivity costs associated with avoidable hospital admissions |
| topic | Hospital admissions Avoidable admissions, ambulatory care sensitive conditions Cost analysis |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-5071-4 |
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