RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the costs of intensive care is a subject of interest at present, due to the high resources required by this area of health care services and the rhythm at which these costs increase. Such an evaluation has rarely been carried out in Spain. The aim of this study was to quantify the cost of medical care to critical patients in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in addition to evaluate the relationship between the severity of the disease and the short term result of intensive health care. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in 1,184 patients admitted (February 1985-February 1986) to the ICU of the Hospital General de Especialidades Virgen de las Nieves in Granada (Spain). Variables collected were the severity of the patient (APACHE II), therapeutic intensity (TISS) received, diagnosis on admission and state on discharge. A detailed and individualized evaluation was performed concerning the costs of hospital stay and treatment in the ICU. RESULTS: The cost per patient per day in the ICU was found to 54,438 pesetas in 1988. A significant association was demonstrated with age, severity, therapeutic intensity and the result of the stay in the unit, being much higher in the patients who died in the ICU, particularly in those in whom the prognosis "a priori" was good. CONCLUSIONS: A significant relation was found between the cost and severity of the disease, with the maximum costs being found in patients in whom survival was expected but who died and vice versa.