Cost analysis of treating cardiovascular diseases in a super-specialty hospital

Background: Cardiovascular care is expensive; hence, economic evaluation is required to estimate resources being consumed and to ensure their optimal utilization. There is dearth of data regarding cost analysis of treating various diseases including cardiac diseases from developing countries. The study aimed to analyze resource consumption in treating cardio-vascular disease patients in a super-specialty hospital. Methods: An observational and descriptive study was carried out from April 2017 to June 2018 in the Department of Cardiology, Cardio-Thoracic (CT) Centre of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. As per World Health Organization, common cardiac diseases i.e. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), Cardiomyopathy, Congenital heart diseases, Cardiac Arrhythmias etc. were considered for cost analysis. A total of 100 admitted patients (Ward & Cardiac Care Unit) of cardiovascular diseases were enrolled in the study using prevalence-based sampling. They were followed up till discharge. Traditional Costing and Time Driven Activity Based Costing (TDABC) methods were used for cost computation. Results: Per bed per day cost incurred by the hospital for admitted patients in Cardiac Care Unit, adult and pediatric cardiology ward was calculated to be INR 28,144 (US$ 434), INR 22,210 (US$ 342) and INR 18,774 (US$ 289), respectively. Inpatient cost constituted almost 70% of the total cost and equipment cost accounted for more than 50% of the inpatient cost followed by human resource cost (28%). Per patient cost of treating any cardiovascular disease was computed to be INR 2,47,822 (US $ 3842). Conclusion: Cost of treating Rheumatic Heart Disease is the highest among all CVDs followed by Cardiomyopathy and other CVDs. Cost of treating cardiovascular diseases in India is less than what has been reported in developed countries. Findings of this study would aid policy makers considering recent radical changes and massive policy reforms ushered in by the Government of India in healthcare delivery.