title: A population-based study of the costs of care for community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: In a population-based study, the consumption of resources for treating adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia was determined. During a 2-yr period, all cases with a clinical and radiological suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia that occurred in patients aged > 14 yrs in a community of 74,610 inhabitants were investigated prospectively. Of 292 cases with a suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia, 224 were included (18.5% misdiagnoses). The mean number of visits per patient was 4.5 (72% in the primary care setting). Inpatient care was recommended in 59.8% of cases; after discharge, 44% of patients were managed in outpatient clinics. The mean direct cost of pneumonia treated in the hospital setting was [symbol: see text] (euros) 1,553, whereas the mean cost of cases treated as outpatients was [symbol: see text] 196. A total of 15.7% of admissions were considered inappropriate and the length of stay could have been reduced by 3.5 days in the most severe cases. A reduction in inappropriate admissions and lengths of hospital stay would result in a decrease in cost of 17.4%. Community-acquired pneumonia in Maresme, Spain, occurs at a low incidence, although with a high percentage of hospitalisations (in part inappropriate), resulting in considerable costs.
authors.affiliation: Consorci Sanitari de Mataró, Mataró, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almirall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ortún
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bassa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bolíbar
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Balanzó
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdaguer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000191:economics*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain