Resource Utilization and Costs of Stroke Unit Care Integrated in a Care Continuum: A 1-Year Controlled, Prospective, Randomized Study in Elderly Patients

Abstract

The total costs the first year did not differ significantly between the treatment groups in this prospective study. The total annual cost per patient showed a very large variation, which was related to stroke severity at onset and not to age or nonstroke diagnoses. Costs other than those for hospital care constituted a substantial fraction of total costs and must be taken into account when organizing the management of stroke patients. The high variability in costs necessitates a larger study to assess long-term cost effectiveness.