Publication: The estimated cost of surgically managed isolated traumatic head injury secondary to road traffic accidents
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Date
2018
Authors
Xinli, You
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Abstract
Background: Traumatic brain injury secondary to road traffic accidents occurs mainly in
the younger age group in which injury related disability leads to long term impact on
employment, economic and social consequences across the lifespan. This study was
designed to assign a monetary cost (in terms of RM, Ringgit Malaysia) to surgically
treated patients in isolated traumatic head injury up to one year post injury.
Methods: This costing study consisted of forty-nine patients. Relevant resource items
were identified and valued using the direct measurement of costs method, cost
accounting methods, standard unit costs method, fees, charges and/or market prices
method. These values were than tabulated to generate the total costs for each patients,
via a combination of macro-costing and micro-costing methods.
Results: The estimated annual cost for all patients was RM 1,471,919.80, with the mean
cost per case of RM 30,039.18± 22,986.25 (CI, RM 4089.97-RM 81,007.04). The mean
cost of care for per case of mild, moderate and severe head injury was RM 11,041.35±
10,936.88 (CI, RM 4,089.97-RM 33,816.72), RM 32,550± 20,998.76 (CI, RM
10,254.93-RM 69,167.03) and RM 36,917.86± 23,697.34 (CI, RM 4,457.49-RM
81,007.04) respectively. In Univariate Analysis, the following were associated with
higher cost of care: severe head injury (P=0.001), sustaining 2 or more intracranial
pathologies (P=0.01), having a poor Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS, 1-3) (P=0.02),
tracheostomised (P<0.001) and contracting pneumonia (P<0.001), while Logistic
Regression Analysis revealed that with increasing age, cost of care increases
(b=RM591.60, P=0.05).
Conclusion: The mean cost of treatment for this group of patients is high when
compared to the per capita income of RM 37,900 in 2016. This generated value acts as a
baseline cost for future estimation of treatment where adequate fundings should be
channeled timely and appropriately to achieve better health care standards.
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Keywords
Health care costs