What Is the Potential Value of a Randomized Trial of Different Thresholds to Initiate Invasive Ventilation? A Health Economic Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the expected value of undertaking a future randomized controlled trial of thresholds used to initiate invasive ventilation compared with usual care in hypoxemic respiratory failure. PERSPECTIVE: Publicly funded healthcare payer. SETTING: Critical care units capable of providing invasive ventilation and unconstrained by resource limitations during usual (nonpandemic) practice. METHODS: We performed a model-based cost-utility estimation with individual-level simulation and value-of-information analysis focused on adults, admitted to critical care, receiving noninvasive oxygen. In the primary scenario, we compared hypothetical threshold A to usual care, where threshold A resulted in increased use of invasive ventilation and improved survival compared with usual care. In the secondary scenario, we compared hypothetical threshold B to usual care, where threshold B resulted in decreased use of invasive ventilation and similar survival compared with usual care. We assumed a willingness-to-pay of 100,000 Canadian dollars (CADs) per quality-adjusted life year. RESULTS: In the primary scenario, threshold A was cost-effective compared with usual care due to improved hospital survival (78.1% vs. 75.1%), despite more use of invasive ventilation (62% vs. 30%) and higher lifetime costs (86,900 vs. 75,500 CAD). In the secondary scenario, threshold B was cost-effective compared with usual care due to similar survival (74.5% vs. 74.6%) with less use of invasive ventilation (20.2% vs. 27.6%) and lower lifetime costs (71,700 vs. 74,700 CAD). Value-of-information analysis showed that the expected value to Canadian society over 10 years of a 400-person randomized trial comparing a threshold for invasive ventilation to usual care in hypoxemic respiratory failure was 1.35 billion CAD or more in both scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: It would be highly valuable to society to identify thresholds that, in comparison to usual care, either increase survival or reduce invasive ventilation without reducing survival.

The value of artificial intelligence for the treatment of mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients: An early health technology assessment.

PURPOSE: The health and economic consequences of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients often remain unstudied. Early health technology assessments (HTA) can examine the potential impact of AI systems by using available data and simulations. Therefore, we developed a generic health-economic model suitable for early HTA of AI systems for mechanically ventilated patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our generic health-economic model simulates mechanically ventilated patients from their hospitalisation until their death. The model simulates two scenarios, care as usual and care with the AI system, and compares these scenarios to estimate their cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: The generic health-economic model we developed is suitable for estimating the cost-effectiveness of various AI systems. By varying input parameters and assumptions, the model can examine the cost-effectiveness of AI systems across a wide range of different clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: Using the proposed generic health-economic model, investors and innovators can easily assess whether implementing a certain AI system is likely to be cost-effective before an exact clinical impact is determined. The results of the early HTA can aid investors and innovators in deployment of AI systems by supporting development decisions, informing value-based pricing, clinical trial design, and selection of target patient groups.

Factors Associated with Costly Hospital Care among Patients with Dementia and Acute Respiratory Failure.

Rationale: Understanding contributors to costly and potentially burdensome care for patients with dementia is of interest to healthcare systems and may facilitate efforts to promote goal-concordant care. Objective: To identify risk factors, in particular whether an early goals-of-care discussion (GOCD) took place, for high-cost hospitalization among patients with dementia and acute respiratory failure. Methods: We conducted an electronic health record-based retrospective cohort study of 298 adults with dementia hospitalized with respiratory failure (receiving ⩾48 h of mechanical ventilation) within an academic healthcare system. We collected demographic and clinical characteristics, including clinical markers of advanced dementia (weight loss, pressure ulcers, hypernatremia, mobility limitations) and intensive care unit (ICU) service (medical, surgical, neurologic). We ascertained whether a GOCD was documented within 48 hours of ICU admission. We used logistic regression to identify patient characteristics associated with high-cost hospitalization measured using the hospital system accounting database and defined as total cost in the top third of the sample (⩾$145,000). We examined a path model that included hospital length of stay as a final mediator between exposure variables and high-cost hospitalization. Results: Patients in the sample had a median age of 71 (IQR, 62-79) years. Approximately half (49%) were admitted to a medical ICU, 29% to a surgical ICU, and 22% to a neurologic ICU. More than half (59%) had a clinical indicator of advanced dementia. A minority (31%) had a GOCD documented within 48 hours of ICU admission; those who did had a 50% lower risk of a high-cost hospitalization (risk ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.8). Older age, limited English proficiency, and nursing home residence were associated with a lower likelihood of high-cost hospitalization, whereas greater comorbidity burden and admission to a surgical or neurologic ICU compared with a medical ICU were associated with a higher likelihood of high-cost hospitalization. Conclusions: Early GOCDs for patients with dementia and respiratory failure may promote high-value care by ensuring aggressive and costly life support interventions are aligned with patients' goals. Future work should focus on increasing early palliative care delivery for patients with dementia and respiratory failure, in particular in surgical and neurologic ICU settings.

Proportional-assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors for mechanical ventilation: a cost-utility analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation is an important component of patient critical care, but it adds expense to an already high-cost setting. This study evaluates the cost-utility of 2 modes of ventilation: proportional-assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors (PAV+ mode) versus pressure-support ventilation (PSV). METHODS: We adapted a published Markov model to the Canadian hospital-payer perspective with a 1-year time horizon. The patient population modelled includes all patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation who have completed the acute phase of ventilatory support and have entered the recovery phase. Clinical and cost inputs were informed by a structured literature review, with the comparative effectiveness of PAV+ mode estimated via pragmatic meta-analysis. Primary outcomes of interest were costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and the (incremental) cost per QALY for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Results were reported in 2017 Canadian dollars. We conducted probabilistic and scenario analyses to assess model uncertainty. RESULTS: Over 1 year, PSV had costs of $50 951 and accrued 0.25 QALYs. Use of PAV+ mode was associated with care costs of $43 309 and 0.29 QALYs. Compared to PSV, PAV+ mode was considered likely to be cost-effective, having lower costs (-$7642) and increased QALYs (+0.04) after 1 year. In cost-effectiveness acceptability analysis, 100% of simulations would be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50 000 per QALY gained. INTERPRETATION: Use of PAV+ mode is expected to benefit patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU) and be a cost-effective alternative to PSV in the Canadian setting. Canadian hospital payers may therefore consider how best to optimally deliver mechanical ventilation in the ICU as they expand ICU capacity.

Treatment of moderate to severe respiratory COVID-19: a cost-utility analysis.

Despite COVID-19's significant morbidity and mortality, considering cost-effectiveness of pharmacologic treatment strategies for hospitalized patients remains critical to support healthcare resource decisions within budgetary constraints. As such, we calculated the cost-effectiveness of using remdesivir and dexamethasone for moderate to severe COVID-19 respiratory infections using the United States health care system as a representative model. A decision analytic model modelled a base case scenario of a 60-year-old patient admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Patients requiring oxygen were considered moderate severity, and patients with severe COVID-19 required intubation with intensive care. Strategies modelled included giving remdesivir to all patients, remdesivir in only moderate and only severe infections, dexamethasone to all patients, dexamethasone in severe infections, remdesivir in moderate/dexamethasone in severe infections, and best supportive care. Data for the model came from the published literature. The time horizon was 1 year; no discounting was performed due to the short duration. The perspective was of the payer in the United States health care system. Supportive care for moderate/severe COVID-19 cost $11,112.98 with 0.7155 quality adjusted life-year (QALY) obtained. Using dexamethasone for all patients was the most-cost effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $980.84/QALY; all remdesivir strategies were more costly and less effective. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses showed dexamethasone for all patients was most cost-effective in 98.3% of scenarios. Dexamethasone for moderate-severe COVID-19 infections was the most cost-effective strategy and would have minimal budget impact. Based on current data, remdesivir is unlikely to be a cost-effective treatment for COVID-19.

Short- and Long-term Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the short- and long-term resource use and costs associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) taken from an entire population. We in addition sought to evaluate the association of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and health care costs. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) with ICH in the entire population of Ontario, Canada (2009-2017). We captured outcomes through linkage to health administrative databases. We used generalized linear models to identify factors associated with total cost. Analysis of OAC use was limited to patients ≥66 years of age. The primary outcome was total 1-year direct health care costs in 2020 US dollars. RESULTS: Among 16,248 individuals with ICH (mean age 71.2 years, male 52.3%), 1-year mortality was 46.0%, and 24.2% required mechanical ventilation. The median total 1-year cost was $26,886 (interquartile range [IQR] $9,641-$62,907) with costs for those who died in hospital of $7,268 (IQR $4,031-$14,966) vs $44,969 (IQR $20,264-$82,414, p < 0.001) for survivors to discharge. OAC use (analysis limited to individuals ≥66 years old) was associated with higher total 1-year costs (cost ratio 1.06 [95% confidence interval 1.01-1.11]). Total 1-year costs for the entire cohort exceeded $120 million per year over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: ICH is associated with significant health care costs, and the median cost of a patient with ICH is roughly 10 times the median inpatient cost in Ontario. Costs were higher among survivors than deceased patients. OAC use is independently associated with increased costs. To maximize cost-effectiveness, future therapies for ICH must aim to reduce disability, not only improve mortality.

Health outcomes and economic burden of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate health outcomes and the economic burden of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United States. METHODS: Hospitalized patients with a primary or secondary discharge diagnosis code for COVID-19 (ICD-10 code U07.1) from 1 April to 31 October 2020 were identified in the Premier Healthcare COVID-19 Database. Patient demographics, hospitalization characteristics, and concomitant medical conditions were assessed. Hospital length of stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, hospital charges, and hospital costs were evaluated overall and stratified by age groups, insurance types, and 4 COVID-19 disease progression states based on intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) usage. RESULTS: Of the 173,942 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the median age was 63 years, 51.0% were male, and 48.5% were covered by Medicare. The most prevalent concomitant medical conditions were cardiovascular disease (73.5%), hypertension (64.8%), diabetes (40.7%), obesity (27.0%), and chronic kidney disease (24.2%). Approximately one-fifth (21.9%) of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients were admitted to the ICU and 16.9% received IMV; most patients (73.6%) did not require ICU admission or IMV, and 12.4% required both. The median hospital LOS was 5 days, in-hospital mortality was 13.6%, median hospital charges were $43,986, and median hospital costs were $12,046. Hospital LOS and in-hospital mortality increased with ICU and/or IMV usage and age; hospital charges and costs increased with ICU and/or IMV usage. Patients with both ICU and IMV usage had the longest median hospital LOS (15 days), highest in-hospital mortality (53.8%), and highest hospital charges ($198,394) and hospital costs ($54,402). LIMITATIONS: This retrospective administrative database analysis relied on coding accuracy and a subset of admissions with validated/reconciled hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS: This study summarizes the severe health outcomes and substantial hospital costs of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the US. The findings support the urgent need for rapid implementation of effective interventions, including safe and efficacious vaccines.

Prolonged Hospitalization Following Acute Respiratory Failure.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the clinical features associated with prolonged hospitalization in acute respiratory failure may allow for better-informed care planning. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the incidence, mortality, cost, and clinical determinants of prolonged hospitalization among patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF)? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample data from 2004 to 2014, we identified adults 18 years and older with International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9) codes for ARF requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 2 days (ICD-9 518.81 or 518.82, 96.7 or 96.04, and 96.05). Outcomes studied included incidence, in-hospital mortality, cost of hospitalization, and associated patient-level and hospital-level characteristics. Trends were assessed by logistic regression, linear regression, and general linear modeling with Poisson distribution. RESULTS: Of the 5,539,567 patients with ARF, 77,665 (1.4%) had a prolonged length of stay (pLOS), defined as ≥ 60 days. Among those with pLOS, 52,776 (68%) survived to discharge. Over the study period, the incidence of pLOS decreased by 48%, in-patient mortality decreased by 18%, per-patient cost of care rose, but the percentage of the total cost of ARF care consumed by patients with pLOS did not significantly decrease (P = .06). Prolonged LOS was more likely to occur in urban teaching hospitals (OR, 6.8; 95% CI, 4.6-10.2; P < .001), hospitals located in the northeastern United States (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 3.0-4.3; P < .001), and among patients with Medicaid insurance coverage (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.9-2.4; P < .001). INTERPRETATION: From 2004 to 2014, incidence and mortality decreased among patients with ARF and pLOS, and although per-patient costs rose, the percentage of total cost of care remained stable. There is substantial variation in length of stay for patients with ARF by US region, hospital teaching status, and patient insurance coverage.

Tracheotomy Timing and Outcomes in the Critically Ill: Complexity and Opportunities for Progress.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To characterize the effects of tracheotomy timing at our institution on intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) and overall hospital LOS. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at a tertiary care medical center for patients undergoing tracheotomy over 2.5 years from January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018. Demographics, survival, duration of endotracheal intubation, timing of tracheotomy, and ICU and overall hospital LOS were assessed. Tracheotomy was considered early (ET) if it was performed by day 7 of mechanical ventilation and late (LT) thereafter. Readmission, mortality, and costs were also tabulated for each aggregate group. Nonparametric statistics were used to compare results. RESULTS: Of the 536 patients included in the analysis, 160 received tracheotomy early and 376 late. Differences between age and sex were not statistically significant. Duration of total ICU stay was shortened by 65% (12.84 ± 17.69 days vs. 38.49 ± 26.61 days; P < .0001), and length of overall hospital course was reduced by 54% (22.71 ± 26.65 days vs. 50.37 ± 34.20 days; P < .0001) in the early tracheotomy group. Observed/expected (O/E) values standardized results to case mix index and revealed LOS of 1.5 for ET and 2.5 for LT, and mortality of 0.76 for ET and 1.25 for LT, and comparable readmissions of both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early tracheotomy in ICU patients is associated with earlier ICU discharge, decreased length of overall hospital stay, and lower mortality when controlling for case mix index. Opportunities exist to optimize patient outcomes and O/E performance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:282-287, 2021.

A Minority of Patients on Mechanical Ventilation Consume Disproportionate Resources: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The Pareto principle states that the majority of any effect comes from a minority of the causes. This property is widely used in quality improvement science. RESEARCH QUESTION: Among patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV), are there subgroups according to MV duration that may serve as potential nodes for high-value interventions aimed at reducing costs without compromising quality? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included approximately 780 hospitals in the Premier Research Database (2014-2018). Patients receiving MV were identified by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes. They were then divided into quintiles according to MV duration; their hospital costs, post-MV onset length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and cumulative post-MV onset hospital days per quintile were compared. RESULTS: A total of 691,961 patients were included in the analysis. Median [interquartile range] duration of MV in days by quintile was as follows: quintile 1 (Q1), 1 [1, 1]; Q2, 2 [2, 2]; Q3, 3 [3, 3]; Q4, 6 [6, 7]; and Q5, 13 [10, 19]. Median [interquartile range] post-MV onset LOS (Q1, 2 [0, 5]; Q5, 17 [12, 26]) and hospital costs (Q1, $15,671 [$9,180, $27,901]; Q5, $70,133 [$47,136, $108,032]) rose from Q1 through Q5. Patients in Q5 consumed 47.7% of all post-MV initiation hospital days among all patients requiring MV, and the mean per-patient hospital costs in Q5 exceeded the sum of costs incurred by Q1 to Q3. Adjusted marginal mean (95% CI) hospital costs rose exponentially from Q1 through Q5: Q2 vs Q1, $3,976 ($3,354, $4,598); Q3 vs Q2, $5,532 ($5,103, $5,961); Q4 vs Q3, $11,705 ($11,071, $12,339); and Q5 vs Q4, $26,416 ($25,215, $27,616). INTERPRETATION: Patients undergoing MV in the highest quintiles according to duration of MV consume a disproportionate amount of resources, as evidenced by MV duration, hospital LOS, and costs, making them a potential target for streamlining MV care.

Fast-track extubation after cardiac surgery in infants: Tug-of-war between performance and reimbursement?

OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety and resource-efficacy of the fast-track (FT) concept (extubation ≤8 hours after surgery) versus the conventional approach (non-FT, >8 hours postoperatively) in infants undergoing open-heart surgery. METHODS: Infants <7 kg operated on cardiopulmonary bypass between 2014 and 2018 were analyzed. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed for group comparison (FT vs non-FT). Intensive care unit (ICU) personnel use and unit performance were evaluated. Postoperative outcome and reimbursement based on German diagnosis-related groups were compared. RESULTS: Of 717 infants (median age: 4 months, Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery mortality score: 0.1-4), FT extubation was achieved in 182 infants (25%). After matching, 123 pairs (FT vs non-FT) were formed without significant differences in baseline characteristics. FT versus non-FT showed a significantly shorter ICU stay (in days): 1.8 (0.9-2.8) versus 4.2 (1.9-6.4), P < .01, and postoperative length of stay (in days): 7 (6-10) versus 10 (7-15.5), P < .01; significantly lower postoperative transfusion rates: 61.3% versus 77%, P < .01; and tendency toward lower early mortality: 0% versus 2.8%, P = .08. Reintubation rate did not differ between the groups (P = .7). Despite a decrease in personnel capacity (2014 vs 2018), the unit performance was maintained. The mean case-mix-index of FT versus non-FT was 8.56 ± 6.08 versus 11.77 ± 12.10 (P < .01), resulting in 27% less reimbursement in the FT group. CONCLUSIONS: FT concept can be performed safely and resource-effectively in infants undergoing open-heart surgery. Since German diagnosis-related group systems reimburse costs, not performance, there is little incentive to avoid prolonged mechanical ventilation. Greater ICU turnover rates and excellent postoperative outcomes are not rewarded adequately.

Lung-Protective Ventilation and Associated Outcomes and Costs Among Patients Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in the ED.

BACKGROUND: Invasive mechanical ventilation is often initiated in the ED, and mechanically ventilated patients may be kept in the ED for hours before ICU transfer. Although lung-protective ventilation is beneficial, particularly in ARDS, it remains uncertain how often lung-protective tidal volumes are used in the ED, and whether lung-protective ventilation in this setting impacts patient outcomes. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the association between the use of lung-protective ventilation in the ED and outcomes among invasively ventilated patients? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis (2011-2017) of a prospective registry from eight EDs enrolling consecutive adult patients (≥ 18 years) who received invasive mechanical ventilation in the ED was performed. Lung-protective ventilation was defined by use of tidal volumes ≤ 8 mL/kg predicted body weight. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included development of ARDS, hospital length of stay, and total hospital costs. RESULTS: The study included 4,174 patients, of whom 2,437 (58.4%) received lung-protective ventilation in the ED. Use of lung-protective ventilation was associated with decreased odds of hospital death (adjusted OR [aOR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.96) and development of ARDS (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.92). Patients who received lung-protective ventilation in the ED had shorter median duration of mechanical ventilation (4 vs 5 days; P < 0.01), shorter median hospital length of stay (11 vs 14 days; P < .001), and reduced total hospital costs (Can$44,348 vs Can$52,484 [US$34,153 vs US$40,418]; P = .03) compared with patients who received higher tidal volumes. INTERPRETATION: Use of lung-protective ventilation in the ED was associated with important patient- and system-centered outcomes, including lower hospital mortality, decreased incidence of ARDS, lower hospital length of stay, and decreased total costs. Protocol development promoting the regular use of lung-protective ventilation in the ED may be of value.

Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of different doses of Curosurf for treating neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious stage of acute lung injury (ALI) which can be treated by exogenous surfactant. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of two different doses of Poractant alfa (Curosurf®) for treating neonatal ARDS and to perform an economic evaluation. Fifty-four patients were divided into Group A (high dose) and Group B (low dose). Pharmacoeconomic evaluation was performed on the two groups regarding the treatment expenses, and the output was the cure rate and complication rate. There were significant differences between Group A and Group B for the duration of receiving oxygen therapy in moderate cases (6.4±3.5d:8.9±2.6d) (P<0.05) and severe cases (10.0±2.6d:14.8±1.3d) (P<0.05). There were significant differences between them for the duration of undergoing mechanical ventilation in severe cases (1.7±2.3d:5.5±2.4d) (P=0.01). There was a significant difference between Group A and Group B for hospitalization expenses in severe cases (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between them in all types of cases for the cure rate (P>0.05). A high dose of Curosurf had an advantage in treating neonatal ARDS, especially in severe cases, with lower final costs and better effects.

Recent Practice Patterns and Variations in Children Hospitalized for Asthma Exacerbation in Japan.

BACKGROUND: High antibiotic prescribing rates for adults with an asthma exacerbation have been reported in developed countries, but few studies have assessed the variation of antibiotic and adjunctive treatment in the routine care of children. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the trends in health resource utilization for children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, ascertained the variations of practices across hospitals and geographic location, and classified these different patterns at hospital levels. METHODS: Using data on Japanese children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation with no indication of bacterial infection during 2010-2018, we conducted a retrospective observational study to assess the trends in initial treatment patterns and their variations. Mixed-effect generalized linear models were used to investigate the treatment trends. Hierarchical cluster analyses were performed to classify the treatment variations across hospitals. RESULTS: Overall, 54,981 children were eligible for the study. Proportions of antibiotic use decreased from 47.2% in 2010 to 26.9% in 2018. Similarly, utilization of antitussives, antihistamines, and methylxanthine showed decreasing trends over the period, whereas the use of mucolytics and ambroxol increased. These treatment variations were more considerable in hospital levels than in 47 prefecture levels. Hierarchical cluster analyses classified these patterns into 6 groups, mostly based on mediator release inhibitor, ambroxol, and antitussives. CONCLUSIONS: Wide variations in antibiotics and adjunctive treatments were observed across hospital levels. Our findings support the improvement in reducing inappropriate antibiotic use and highlight the need for comparative effectiveness research of the adjunctive treatments among children hospitalized for asthma.

Effects of pain, sedation and delirium monitoring on clinical and economic outcome: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Significant improvements in clinical outcome can be achieved by implementing effective strategies to optimise pain management, reduce sedative exposure, and prevent and treat delirium in ICU patients. One important strategy is the monitoring of pain, agitation and delirium (PAD bundle). We hypothesised that there is no sufficient financial benefit to implement a monitoring strategy in a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG)-based reimbursement system, therefore we expected better clinical and decreased economic outcome for monitored patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study using routinely collected data. We used univariate and multiple linear analysis, machine-learning analysis and a novel correlation statistic (maximal information coefficient) to explore the association between monitoring adherence and resulting clinical and economic outcome. For univariate analysis we split patients in an adherence achieved and an adherence non-achieved group. RESULTS: In total 1,323 adult patients from two campuses of a German tertiary medical centre, who spent at least one day in the ICU between admission and discharge between 1. January 2016 and 31. December 2016. Adherence to PAD monitoring was associated with shorter hospital LoS (e.g. pain monitoring 13 vs. 10 days; p<0.001), ICU LoS, duration of mechanical ventilation shown by univariate analysis. Despite the improved clinical outcome, adherence to PAD elements was associated with a decreased case mix per day and profit per day shown by univariate analysis. Multiple linear analysis did not confirm these results. PAD monitoring is important for clinical as well as economic outcome and predicted case mix better than severity of illness shown by machine learning analysis. CONCLUSION: Adherence to PAD bundles is also important for clinical as well as economic outcome. It is associated with improved clinical and worse economic outcome in comparison to non-adherence in univariate analysis but not confirmed by multiple linear analysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT02265263, Registered 15 October 2014.

Increasing ventilator surge capacity in COVID 19 pandemic: design, manufacture and in vitro-in vivo testing in anaesthetized healthy pigs of a rapid prototyped mechanical ventilator.

OBJECTIVE: The advent of new technologies has made it possible to explore alternative ventilator manufacturing to meet the worldwide shortfall for mechanical ventilators especially in pandemics. We describe a method using rapid prototyping technologies to create an electro-mechanical ventilator in a cost effective, timely manner and provide results of testing using an in vitro-in vivo testing model. RESULTS: Rapid prototyping technologies (3D printing and 2D cutting) were used to create a modular ventilator. The artificial manual breathing unit (AMBU) bag connected to wall oxygen source using a flow meter was used as air reservoir. Controlled variables include respiratory rate, tidal volume and inspiratory: expiratory (I:E) ratio. In vitro testing and In vivo testing in the pig model demonstrated comparable mechanical efficiency of the test ventilator to that of standard ventilator but showed the material limits of 3D printed gears. Improved gear design resulted in better ventilator durability whilst reducing manufacturing time (< 2-h). The entire cost of manufacture of ventilator was estimated at 300 Australian dollars. A cost-effective novel rapid prototyped ventilator for use in patients with respiratory failure was developed in < 2-h and was effective in anesthetized, healthy pig model.

Clinical and economic impact of the use of dexmedetomidine for sedation in the intensive care unit compared to propofol.

Background Despite the advantages of dexmedetomidine (DEX) over propofol (PRO) including minimal respiratory depression and the potential for preventing and/or treating intensive care unit (ICU) delirium, PRO has been the preferred agent due to its lower cost. However, the acquisition cost of DEX has considerably decreased as a generic version of DEX has recently become available. Objective To evaluate clinical and economic outcomes of DEX-based sedation compared to PRO in the ICU. Setting A retrospective cohort study of 86 ICU patients who received either DEX or PRO for a period ≥ 12 h. Method Patients were matched by age, sex, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores in a 1:1 ratio. Main outcome measure Clinical outcomes included the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), and requirements of concomitant sedatives and opioids. Economic outcomes included the ICU and hospital costs as well as the cost of sedatives or combined sedatives and opioids per patient. Results There were no significant differences in ICU and hospital LOS and time on MV in both groups (median ICU LOS 7 [DEX] vs. 9 [PRO] days, p = 0.07; median hospital LOS 12 [DEX] vs. 14 [PRO] days, p = 0.261; median time of MV 144 [DEX] vs. 158 [PRO] hours, p = 0.176). DEX-based sedation compared to PRO was associated with similar ICU and hospital costs (US$ 67,561 vs. 78,429, p = 0.39; US$ 71,923 vs. 71,084, p = 0.1). Conclusion The clinical outcomes and economic impact associated with DEX- and PRO-based sedation were similar.

Hospital costs and prognosis in end-stage renal disease patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with ESRD are a high-risk group for cardiac surgery and have increased morbidity and mortality. Most studies comparing ESRD patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention have found that the long-term survival is good in ESRD patients after CABG. The aim of our study was to compare ESRD patients who underwent CABG with the general population who underwent CABG, in terms of prognosis and hospital costs. METHODS: This study analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan for patients who were diagnosed with ESRD and received CABG (ICD-9-CM codes 585 or 586) between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2009. The ESRD patients included in this study all received catastrophic illness cards with the major illness listed as ESRD from the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan. The control subjects were randomly selected patients without ESRD after propensity score matching with ESRD patients according to age, gender, and comorbidities at a 2:1 ratio from the same dataset. RESULTS: A total of 48 ESRD patients received CABG, and their mean age was 62.04 ± 10.04 years. Of these patients, 29.2% were aged ≥70 years, and 66.7% were male. ESRD patients had marginally higher intensive care unit (ICU) stays (11.06 vs 7.24 days) and significantly higher ICU costs (28,750 vs 17,990 New Taiwan Dollars (NTD)) than non-ESRD patients. Similarly, ESRD patients had significantly higher surgical costs (565,200 vs. 421,890 NTD), a higher perioperative mortality proportion (10.4% vs 2.1%) and a higher postoperative mortality proportion (33.3% vs 11.5%) than non-ESRD patients. CONCLUSIONS: After CABG, ESRD patients had a higher risk of mortality than non-ESRD patients, and ICU and surgery costs were also higher among the ESRD patients than among patients without ESRD.