title: Outcome and costs of intensive care. A follow-up study on patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.
abstract: This historically prospective study analysed hospital costs and long-term outcome in 249 consecutive patients who required intensive care including intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) for 48 h or more. The mean age of the patients was 46.7 years and the mean duration on IPPV was 9.1 days. Mortality in hospital was 43%, increasing to 54.6% five years after admission. The mean cost per patient treated was 22,823 US dollars (USD (1980 value]. The mean cost to yield one survivor was 40,035 USD. The mean cost per survivor was 26,056 USD, whereas that of a non-survivor was 18,500 USD. The cost-benefit ratio, i.e. calculated cost per year of extended life until the age of 75 years, averaged 1420 USD (range 360-7980 USD). With the exception of patients suffering from cancerous diseases, the cost-benefit ratio found in this study was favourable in comparison to other high-cost medical care. This is further emphasized by the fact that for the years saved, the quality of life was mostly good.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000191:economics*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors