The development and use of a method to compare the costs of acute stroke across Europe.
BACKGROUND
there is a need for more information on the costs of different ways of managing stroke. Methods to compare the costs of stroke care in different countries have not been previously developed.


OBJECTIVE
to develop and use a method to compare the costs of acute stroke care across Europe.


METHODS
acute hospitals in 13 different European centres.


METHODS
we included in the study stroke patients hospitalized during 1996-7 at 13 centres across Europe (n=2072). We recorded the duration of acute hospital stay and use of investigations. Mean costs for each centre were predicted using linear regression analysis to adjust for case-mix differences.


RESULTS
the average acute hospital stay ranged from 9 days (Spain) to 35 days (UK; P < 0.001). The predicted mean cost of treating conscious, continent men aged > 74 ranged from $220 (95% confidence interval 191-254) in Latvia to $5164 (4294-6191) in Austria.


CONCLUSIONS
differences in the acute costs of stroke exist across Europe because of differences in clinical practice and unit costs. This methodology will be used to capture the costs incurred by a broad range of care providers. These estimates will then be suitable for using in cost-effectiveness analysis.
Grieve
R
R
Department of Public Health Sciences, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK. richard.grieve@lshtm.ac.uk
Dundas
R
R
Beech
R
R
Wolfe
C
C
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation