1. Impact of mechanical ventilation on the daily costs of ICU care: a systematic review and meta regression.
- Author
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Kaier K, Heister T, Motschall E, Hehn P, Bluhmki T, and Wolkewitz M
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Critical Care methods, France, Germany, Humans, Middle Aged, Young Adult, Critical Care economics, Hospital Costs statistics & numerical data, Intensive Care Units economics, Respiration, Artificial economics
- Abstract
The impact of mechanical ventilation on the daily costs of intensive care unit (ICU) care is largely unknown. We thus conducted a systematic search for studies measuring the daily costs of ICU stays for general populations of adults (age ≥18 years) and the added costs of mechanical ventilation. The relative increase in the daily costs was estimated using random effects meta regression. The results of the analyses were applied to a recent study calculating the excess length-of-stay associated with ICU-acquired (ventilator-associated) pneumonia, a major complication of mechanical ventilation. The search identified five eligible studies including a total of 54 766 patients and ~238 037 patient days in the ICU. Overall, mechanical ventilation was associated with a 25.8% (95% CI 4.7%-51.2%) increase in the daily costs of ICU care. A combination of these estimates with standardised unit costs results in approximate daily costs of a single ventilated ICU day of €1654 and €1580 in France and Germany, respectively. Mechanical ventilation is a major driver of ICU costs and should be taken into account when measuring the financial burden of adverse events in ICU settings.
- Published
- 2019
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