The Economic Burden of Urinary Tract Infection and Pressure Ulceration in Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Admissions: Evidence for Comparative Economics and Decision Analytics from a Matched Case-Control Study

• DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4934
• Publication Date: 2017-08-09T07:23:03Z
• Authors: Barry A.B. White; Nicolas Dea; John T. Street; Christiana L. Cheng; Carly S. Rivers; Najmedden Attabib; Brian K. Kwon; Charles G. Fisher; Marcel F. Dvorak
• Keywords: Acute care

Secondary complications of spinal cord injury (SCI) are a burden to affected individuals and the rest society. There is limited evidence economic or cost in SCI populations Canada, however, which necessary for comparative analyses decision analytic modeling possible solutions these common health problems. Comparative can inform resource allocation decisions, but outputs only as good inputs. In this article, new excess incremental costs urinary tract infection (UTI) pressure ulceration (PU) acute traumatic from an exploratory case series analysis admissions Level I specialized Canadian spine facility (2008–2013) presented. Participants national registry were case-control matched (1:1) on predicted probability experiencing UTI PU during initial admission. The estimated mean differences total direct admission (length stay, accommodation, nursing, pharmacy) perspective admitting between participants paired demographic characteristics. Even relatively minor PU, respectively, added average $7,790 (standard deviation [SD] $6,267) $18,758 (SD $27,574) 2013 dollars (CAD). This established admissions, will support decision-informing SCI.