title: Cost of treating heart failure in an Irish teaching hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of heart failure is 3 to 20 per 1,000 population, but may exceed 100 per 1,000 in the over 65 age group. Some 1-2% of the total healthcare budget is consumed in the management of heart failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As hospital costs account for approximately 70% of this expenditure we determined the cost of treating heart failure in an Irish teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost evaluation was from the hospital perspective using a microcosting detailed collection of resources used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average cost of a hospital admission for cardiac failure was IR 2,146 Pounds. The average cost per day was IR 193 Pounds. Approximately 75% of hospital costs were associated with ward costs. Medications accounted for 3.5% of total costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The availability of Irish cost data is essential for the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for the treatment of heart failure in our healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heerey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged