COST OF INTENSIVE THERAPY - A DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY AND INITIAL RESULTS

A preliminary study was performed to calculate the cost of intensive therapy on an individual patient basis. The fixed (equipment, supporting services and land opportunity), semi‐fixed (staff) and marginal (treatment) costs of 20 critically ill patients were calculated individually. The results show that there is wide variation in intensive therapy costs. The average daily cost for a spontaneously breathing patient was £399 (95% confidence intervals £388–£460) while that for a ventilated patient was £726 (£656–£795). The mean total cost per patient was £1980, but the cost per survivor increased by 16% (£347) because of four deaths on the intensive care unit. High total costs are associated with increased severity of illness and higher marginal (treatment) costs are associated with increased semi‐fixed (staff) costs. The cost of intensive therapy was three to five times that for general ward care. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved