Estimation of Costs of Hospitalized Patients due to Traffic Related Injuries in a Public Hospital of Tucumán, Argentina, 2017

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Traffic-related injuries (TRI) are a major problem in public hospitals. For better resource management and distribution, it is important to know the cost of hospitalizations. The objective of this study was to characterize patients hospitalized due to TRI and to estimate the direct costs of the care provided between January and June 2017in a public hospital of Tucumán Province in Argentina. METHODS: A study of costs of patients hospitalized due to TRI was conducted, with retrospective follow-up and summation of the variables considered for the analysis. Averages were estimated and proportions were compared. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Statistical software Stata 11.2 was used. RESULTS: A total of 458 patients were hospitalized due to TRI, 79% were men, and the median age was 27 for both sexes. Motorcycles accounted for 77% of all vehicles used. Severely injured patients (25%) stayed more than 30 days in surgical facilities (average cost: USD 7252). The average cost per patient of complementary studies, in surgeries and hospitalization was USD 180, USD 823 and USD 1320, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalized due to TRI were mainly males, young adults and motorcyclists. The highest cost was in the group of patients with serious injuries, who required surgery, with an average stay of 35 days of hospitalization in surgical facilities