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ICU-Associated Costs during the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Hospital in a Low-Vaccinated Eastern European Country

Author

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  • Mihai Popescu

    (Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Fundeni Clinical Institute, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Oana Mara Ştefan

    (Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 022328 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Mihai Ştefan

    (Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, “C. C. Iliescu” Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Disease, 022328 Buchares, Romania)

  • Liana Văleanu

    (Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, “C. C. Iliescu” Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Disease, 022328 Buchares, Romania)

  • Dana Tomescu

    (Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Fundeni Clinical Institute, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 022328 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a tremendous financial and social impact. The pressure on healthcare systems worldwide has increased with each pandemic wave. The present study assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare-derived costs of critically ill patients during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Romania. We prospectively included patients admitted to a single-centre intensive care unit (ICU) during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Median daily costs were calculated from financial records and divided in three groups: administrative costs, treatment costs and investigation costs. These were then compared to two retrospective cohorts of non-COVID-19 patients admitted to the same ICU during the same time interval in 2020 and 2019. Demographic data and the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection and of associated organ dysfunctions were recorded to identify risk factors for higher costs. Our results show that the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a 70.8% increase in total costs compared to previous years. This increase was mainly determined by an increase in medication and medical-device-related costs. We identified the following as risk factors for increased costs: higher degrees of lung involvement, severity of respiratory dysfunction, need for renal replacement therapy and the use of antiviral or immunomodulatory therapy. Costs were higher in patients who had a shorter duration of hospitalization. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased costs for patients, and rapid measures need to be taken to ensure adequate financial support during future pandemic waves, especially in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Mihai Popescu & Oana Mara Ştefan & Mihai Ştefan & Liana Văleanu & Dana Tomescu, 2022. "ICU-Associated Costs during the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Hospital in a Low-Vaccinated Eastern European Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1781-:d:742214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Mihaela Alexandra Gherman & Laura Arhiri & Andrei Corneliu Holman & Camelia Soponaru, 2022. "Injurious Memories from the COVID-19 Frontline: The Impact of Episodic Memories of Self- and Other-Potentially Morally Injurious Events on Romanian Nurses’ Burnout, Turnover Intentions and Basic Need ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-25, August.

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