Which Cost Components Influence the Cost of Palliative Care in the Last Hospitalization? A Retrospective Analysis of Palliative Care vs. Usual Care at a Swiss University Hospital

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management
• Main Authors: Hagemann, Monika, M.Sc, Zambrano, Sofia, PhD, Bütikofer, Lukas, PhD, Bergmann, Antje, Prof. Dr, Voigt, Karen, Dr. Dipl.-Soz. MPH, Eychmüller, Steffen, Prof. Dr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Anesthesia; Pain Medicine; hospitals; cost components; financial impact; Palliative care
• ISSN: 0885-3924
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.026

AbstractContextAlthough the number of studies on the economic impact of palliative care (PC) is growing, the great majority report costs from North America. ObjectivesWe aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of PC hospital cost components from the perspective of a European mixed funded health care system by identifying cost drivers of PC and quantifying their effect on hospital costs compared to usual care (UC). MethodsWe performed a retrospective, observational analysis examining cost data from the last hospitalization of patients who died at a large academic hospital in Switzerland comparing patients receiving PC versus UC. ResultsTotal hospital costs were similar in PC and UC with a mean difference of CHF -2’777 [95% confidence interval (CI) -12’713 to 8’506, p=0.60]. Average costs per day decreased by CHF -3’224 [95% CI -3’811 to -2’631, p<0.001] for PC patients with significant reduction of costs for diagnostic intervention and medication. Higher cost components for PC patients were catering, room, nursing, social counselling and non-medical therapists. In sensitivity analyses, when we restricted PC exposure to 3 days from admission, total costs and average costs per day were significantly lower for PC. ConclusionStudies measuring the impact of PC on hospital costs should analyze various cost components beyond total costs in order to understand wanted and potentially unwanted cost-reducing effects. An international definition of a set of cost components, specific for cost-impact PC studies, may help avoid superficial and potentially dangerous cost discussions.