Hospital costs for stroke care in Singapore

We performed this prospective study to determine the cost of care for acute stroke patients admitted to hospital. Stroke was subtyped into subarachnoi d hemorrhage (SAH), intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), nonlacunar infarct ( NLC), lacunar infarct (LAC) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Cost of ca re was computed for the various services the patient received. At the time of the study, US$ 1 = S$1.50. 426 patients were studied. Mean length of sla y (LOS) was 17 days. Mean cost/discharge was S$7,547. Ward charges accounte d for 38.2%, radiology 14.5%, doctors' fees 10.3%, drugs 8.4%, therapy 7.3% . Cost was highly correlated with LOS, r(2) = 0.73. Mean cost/discharge was SAH S$28,539, IPH S$14,398, NLC S$7,476, LAC S$3,517, TIA S$1,962. Initial hospitalization cost for stroke is highly correlated with LOS. The bu Ik o f cost is attributable to wa rd stay. Cost/discharge is highest with SAH, a nd in descending order IPH, NLC, LAG, TIA. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.