Abstract
PurposeFirst detected in China in 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly spread globally. Since then, healthcare systems are exposed to major challenges due to scarce personnel and financial resources. Therefore, this analysis intended to examine treatment costs of COVID-19 inpatients in a German single centre during the first pandemic wave in 2020 from a healthcare payer perspective. Potential cost savings were assessed considering the administration of remdesivir according to the European Medicines Agency label.MethodsA retrospective medical-chart review was conducted on COVID-19 patients treated at University Hospital Cologne, Germany. Patients were clustered according to an eight-category ordinal scale reflecting different levels of supplemental oxygen. Potential cost savings due to the administration of remdesivir were retrospectively modelled based on a reduced length of stay, as shown in the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial.Results105 COVID-19 patients were identified. There was wide variability in the service data with median treatment costs from EUR 900 to EUR 53,000 per patient, depending on major diagnosis categories and clinical severity. No supplemental oxygen was needed in 40 patients (38.1%). Forty-three (41.0%) patients were treated in intensive-care units, and 30 (69.8%) received invasive ventilation. In our model, in-label administration of remdesivir would have resulted in costs savings of EUR 2100 per COVID-19 inpatient (excluding acquisition costs).ConclusionWe found that COVID-19 inpatients suffer from heterogeneous disease patterns with a variety of incurred G-DRG tariffs and treatment costs. Theoretically shown in the model, financial resources can be saved by the administration of remdesivir in eligible inpatients.
Highlights
Patients and methodsSince its initial detection in the end of 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly spread and is challenging countries, residents, and healthcare systems worldwide [1]
The main goal of this evaluation was to detect the economic burden from a healthcare payer perspective for inpatient COVID-19 treatment during the first pandemic wave in Germany
This is the first cost of illness study considering treatment costs of real-life COVID-19 inpatients in Germany
Summary
Patients and methodsSince its initial detection in the end of 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly spread and is challenging countries, residents, and healthcare systems worldwide [1]. Currently no medication is fully approved and available for use in clinical routine; remdesivir was granted a conditional marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2020 [3]. It is the only antiviral not advised against in the German S3 guideline.. As immunomodulatory treatment approaches are considered as especially relevant for advanced, hyper-inflammatory states of disease, the administration of dexamethasone is suggested in severe cases of COVID-19 with oxygen need [4]. At the beginning of 2021, no further antiviral or immunomodulatory treatment methods are recommended outside of clinical trials in Germany
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