Cost analysis of hospitalization for exacerbation in patients with copd: An example of Baskent University

COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and imparts a substantial economic burden on individuals and society. COPD is characterized with recurrent symptoms and exacerbations although it is a preventable and a treatable disease. In 2010, the cost of COPD in the USA was projected to be approximately US$50 billion. Costs increase with increasing severity of disease, and hospital stays account for the majority of these costs. The total economic costs of COPD morbidity and mortality in the Turkey is still not well known. There are a few regional studies reflecting economic burden of COPD in our country during the hospitalization period of the patients in the literature. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the approximate cost of COPD patients during the hospitalization period for acute exacerbation. We also aimed to establish factors effecting total cost of hospitalization period. With these purpose, all COPD acute exacerbation patients (n:90) who hospitalized to Pulmonary Diseases Clinic of Baskent University Hospital between 1 January 2012-31 December 2013 were included in the study retrospectively. Demographic characteristics of patients like age, gender, length of hospitalization stay were all recorded. We also recorded influenza vaccination history, received antibiotic treatments, perform of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stays of the patients.