[A pharmacoeconomic study of in-hospital treatment against community-acquired pneumonia].
BACKGROUND
A computer-driven unit-dose drug-dispensing system allows for improved knowledge on pharmaceutical costs per DRG and clinical department, between-hospital pharmacoeconomic studies to be carried out, as well as deviation analysis.


METHODS
A retrospective, cost-minimization study was undertaken to both analyze and compare prescriptions for a number of antibiotics and bronchodilators, and their costs in both 89 and 90 DRGs, as well as their cost per hospital stay in patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Departments of two hospitals in Areas 6 (HUPH) and 9 (SVO) in CAM (Autonomous Community of Madrid). A statistical analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student 's "t" test, Mann-Whitney test, and least squares method.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient samples are similar, with no significant differences existing in clinical status at admission or in cure percentage. Also, no significant differences exist in antibiotic use, except for clarithromycin and ceftriaxone, which were more commonly used at SVO (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively), and levofloxacin, which was more commonly prescribed at HUPH (P < 0.001). For identical results measured by using the cure index and mean stay, the cost of antibiotic therapy was significantly higher at HUPH (113.57 euro) versus SVO (78.32 euro), which related to a wider use of levofloxacin; while no statistical relation to clinical status was found that warranted its choice. No differences were seen in bronchoinhaler use which, together with antibiotics, represent 82.6% of cost at HUPH and 72% at SVO.
Bermejo Vicedo
T
T
Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid. fhidalgo.hsvo@salud.madrid.org
Torralba Arranz
A
A
Hidalgo Correas
F J
FJ
Millán Santos
I
I
Rodríguez Morradan
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D003363:Cost Control; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents