EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DIRECT ECONOMIC-IMPACT OF HYDROCEPHALUS - A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY

Background: The cost of care for hydrocephalic patients is not well es tablished. Methods: This retrospective study for the years 1990-1996 a nalyzed the cost of surgical intervention and hospitalization of hydro cephalic patients in the community-based setting of Manitoba, Canada, with a stable population of 1.138 million. Results: The number of disc harges with a primary diagnosis of hydrocephalus was greater than 200 annually. The mean duration of hospital stay was 12.4 to 21.9 days, de pending on the etiology of hydrocephalus. Approximately 80 shunt proce dures were performed annually. The total annual cost of care, excludin g outpatient costs and chronic non-hospital based costs which could no t be determined accurately, was estimated to be CDN$ 3.5 million in th is community. Conclusions: Hydrocephalus is a chronic condition which puts substantial monetary demands on society and therefore deserves gr eater attention.