Clinical Factors Affecting the Costs of Hospitalized Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem with severe economic consequences. In this study, we tried to estimate the clinical factors affecting the economic cost of COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization.
Methods: A total of 241 patients who were hospitalized due to COPD exacerbations were included in the study. Data were examined retrospectively using hospital charts.
Results: The average length of the hospital stay of the patients was 9.6±4.6 days. The average total direct cost for hospitalization was 1103.2±557.3 Turkish Lira (TL). The length of hospital stay or total costs were not different between male and female patients (respectively, p=0.78 and p=0.28) or between patients above 65 years old and others (respectively, p =0.77 and p=0.92). Presence of comorbidities increased total costs significantly (p=0.008). The total costs of medications and antibiotic costs, together with laboratory costs, were significantly higher in patients with comorbidities (p=0.02, p=0.003, and p<0.001). Length of hospital stay also tended to be higher in patients with comorbidities, but it was not statistically significant (p=0.09). Total costs and length of hospital stay tended to increase as the number of comorbidities increased (p=0.02 and p=0.008). Type of social insurance did not affect total costs or length of hospital stay (p= 0.16 and p=0.21).
Conclusion: Length of hospital stay and direct costs of hospitalized COPD exacerbations significantly increased in the presence of comorbidities, while age, sex, and type of insurance did not have any significant effects.