Analysis of Cost Effectiveness in a Post-acute Brain Injury Rehabilitation

• Published in: Rihabiritēshon igaku Vol. 39; no. 12; pp. 804 - 808
• Main Authors: YONEMOTO, Kyozo, OHASHI, Masahiro, ABO, Masahiro, WATANABE, Shu, MIYANO, Satoshi, HASHIMOTO, Keiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine 2002
• Subjects: cost effectiveness; traumatic brain injury; utility
• ISSN: 0034-351X; 1880-778X
• DOI: 10.2490/jjrm1963.39.804

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the ratio of costs to outcome of brain injury rehabilitation. The subject cohort receiving post acute comprehensive rehabilitation comprised 48 people (43 males, 5 females) with 40 severe, 6 moderate and 2 mild brain injury. The patients were subdivided into three groups based on the ability of indoor ambulation at admission; Group A; independence of walking, Group B; independence of wheel chair driving, Group C; dependence of locomotion. The mean FIM score (motor item) in Group A, B and C was significantly improved from 83.8±9.7 to 89.7±4.1, from 54.8±17.0 to 71.2±17.4 and from 24.5±18.4 to 39.0±25.0, respectively. The mean hospital cost per person was 1, 211, 000±535, 000 yen, 2, 367, 000±666, 000 yen and 3, 979, 000±4, 306, 000 yen, respectively. After discharge, all patients could go back to home and 8 patients returned to premorbid work. From this analysis it seems that brain injured patients who receive comprehensive rehabilitation gained better ability of daily living and social outcome, which suggest great cost effectiveness. However, this study may be limited by sample size. It is clear that future research on quality of life must be considered in the investigation of cost effective aspect of brain injury rehabilitation.