Cost of medical management of patients in intensive care unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Pune, India

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cost of illness of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients admitted and discharged from ICU above 18 years of any medical illness for 6 months in ICU in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Pune. Data such as demographic details, diagnosis, disease class, cost of drug therapy, and medical care cost were obtained. The cost was analyzed using the bottom-up method and statistical analysis of data was done using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Of 400 patients, the average age was 54.27 years with a length of stay of 3.69 days and mortality rate of 12.25%. The average total cost per patient accounted for Rs. 52,840 and the per day cost was Rs. 14,319. Amongst various diagnoses, the cost incurred in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) accounted for Rs. 75,060 of the total cost, whereas the average per day cost observed in myocardial infarction (MI) was Rs. 15,495. The cost of drug therapy per patient was Rs. 5204.33 and total drug therapy accounted for 12.08%. The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 8.44. Antimicrobial costs were observed as 28% of the total cost. The cost of antimicrobials was Rs. 1473 per patient. Medical care costs, including consultant and investigation charges per patient, were found to be Rs. 632 and Rs. 6861, respectively. Conclusion: The study reveals that ICU bed charges, miscellaneous charges, and drug therapy costs have more contribution to the direct medical cost of hospitalization.