RESUMEN
In a population-based study, the consumption of resources for treating adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia was determined. During a 2-yr period, all cases with a clinical and radiological suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia that occurred in patients aged > 14 yrs in a community of 74,610 inhabitants were investigated prospectively. Of 292 cases with a suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia, 224 were included (18.5% misdiagnoses). The mean number of visits per patient was 4.5 (72% in the primary care setting). Inpatient care was recommended in 59.8% of cases; after discharge, 44% of patients were managed in outpatient clinics. The mean direct cost of pneumonia treated in the hospital setting was [symbol: see text] (euros) 1,553, whereas the mean cost of cases treated as outpatients was [symbol: see text] 196. A total of 15.7% of admissions were considered inappropriate and the length of stay could have been reduced by 3.5 days in the most severe cases. A reduction in inappropriate admissions and lengths of hospital stay would result in a decrease in cost of 17.4%. Community-acquired pneumonia in Maresme, Spain, occurs at a low incidence, although with a high percentage of hospitalisations (in part inappropriate), resulting in considerable costs.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Comunitarias Adquiridas/economía , Neumonía Bacteriana/economía , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Atención Ambulatoria/economía , Ahorro de Costo/economía , Costos y Análisis de Costo , Costos Directos de Servicios , Femenino , Recursos en Salud/economía , Recursos en Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Hospitalización/economía , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación/economía , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Admisión del Paciente/economía , Vigilancia de la Población , Atención Primaria de Salud/economía , Atención Primaria de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Prospectivos , EspañaRESUMEN
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