Cost Estimation of Technologies Applied in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke in a Private Hospital.

Abstract

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in Brazil. This study aimed to estimate and compare the direct costs associated with the use of two advanced treatment technologies for IS—mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT)—in relation to conservative treatment (CT) in a private hospital. Using the bottom-up micro-costing method, we analyzed 146 cases of IS treated between 2020 and 2021. The costs assessed included emergency care, hospitalization, and in-hospital rehabilitation. Results showed that the mean cost per patient for mechanical thrombectomy (R$ 63,800.95) was significantly higher than for thrombolysis (R$ 13,861.11) and conservative treatment (R$ 11,976.94). Although mechanical thrombectomy requires a higher initial investment, its clinical benefits may justify the costs in the long term by reducing severe disabilities and the need for prolonged rehabilitation and support care. These findings provide concrete data to support decision-making regarding resource allocation for IS treatment in Brazil, emphasizing the importance of considering both immediate costs and potential economic savings due to improved patient outcomes.