Direct Medical Cost Analysis of Indian COVID-19 Patients Requiring Critical Care Admission

INTRODUCTION: Intensive care unit (ICU) admission is required for approximately 25% of patients affected with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and imposes a high economic burden on patients in resource-limited settings. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective direct medical care cost analysis of COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission after obtaining the Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Data were obtained from the records of patients admitted to the COVID-19 ICU of a tertiary care trust teaching hospital from June 2020 to December 2020. Direct costs were analyzed and correlated with various demographic variables and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 176 patients were included (males—76%). The median direct medical cost for a median stay of 13 days was INR 202248.5 ($ 2742.91). Hospital drugs and disposables accounted for 20% of the total cost followed by bed charges (19%), equipment charges (17%), biosafety protective gear (15.5%), pathological and radiological tests (15%), clinical management (7.6%), and biomedical waste management (1.6%). Government schemes accounted for 79% of medical claims followed by directly paying patients (12.5%) and private insurance (8.5%). The cost was significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus and sepsis and in those requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) (p <0.05). Shorter lead time to hospital admission and lesser length of hospital stay were associated with significant lower direct cost. CONCLUSION: Direct medical care cost is substantial for COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission. This cost is significantly associated with increased ICU and hospital stay, longer lead time to admission, diabetes mellitus, sepsis, and those who need high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), and MV. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Reddy KN, Shah J, Iyer S, Chowdhury M, Yerrapalem N, Pasalkar N, et al. Direct Medical Cost Analysis of Indian COVID-19 Patients Requiring Critical Care Admission. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(10):1120–1125.