Cost of stroke from a tertiary center in northwest India.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to study the cost of stroke, its predictors, and the impact on social determinants of the family.


METHODS
This prospective study was done in the Stroke unit and Neurology clinic between April 2009 and October 2011.


METHODS
All first ever stroke patients during the study period were enrolled. Direct and indirect costs at admission, at 1 and 6 months follow-up were obtained. The follow-up included information about the patient's poststroke outcome using modified Rankin Scale (mRS), work status, modifications made at home, loan requirement, etc.,


RESULTS
Two hundred patients were enrolled in this study and final analysis was performed on 189 patients. The mean age was 58 ± 13 years and 128 (67.7%) were men. Majority (54%) were living in a joint family. The mean overall cost of stroke per patient was rupees (INR) 80612 at 6 months. Higher income (P = 0.008), poor outcome (mRS >2) (P = 0.001), and length of hospital stay (P = 0.001) were the cost driving factors of total cost of stroke at 6 months. There was a decline in the requirement of help (P < 0.0001) and need for loan (P = 0.003) at 6 months follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct medical cost or acute care of stroke accounted for a major component of cost of stroke. Poor outcome, length of hospital stay, and higher income were the cost driving factors. The socioeconomic impact on the family decreased at follow up probably due to joint family system.
Gagandeep
G
Kwatra
Paramdeep
P
Kaur
Gagan
G
Toor
Dinesh K
DK
Badyal
Raminder
R
Kaur
Yashpal
Y
Singh
Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Jeyaraj D
JD
Pandian
D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics*