ASSESSMENT OF COSTS RELATED TO HOSPITALIZATION OF STROKE PATIENTS IN AUSTRIA FOR 1992 AND PROSPECTIVE COSTS FOR THE YEAR 2010

In 1992, there were 48,038 stroke patients hospitalized in Austria, wh ich is equivalent to a stroke incidence of 609/100,000 (781/100,000 st andardized for age, 35 years and older). The average number of hospita lizations per patient was 1.1 times per year; the mean length of stay in the hospital was 24.7 days per patient and 22.5 days per hospitaliz ation. This accounts for a total of 1.2 million hospital days, worth U S$ 344 million. Based on the current level of incidence and medical ca re, the costs related to stroke will rise by 25% until the year 2010, as the proportion of elderly people continues to grow. Data on past tr ends and future projections of stroke in Austria and other countries f orm the necessary basis for planning prevention and control of stroke.