Key result
Scrub typhus hospitalization incurs ~$490 median cost, driven by ARDS, shock, and longer stays.
Why the study?
Scrub typhus imposes a considerable burden in low- and middle-income countries, and the direct cost of hospitalization and its trend over six years needed to be determined.
Observational (n=198)
No
Hospitalization for scrub typhus incurs substantial healthcare expenses, particularly for patients requiring ICU admission due to ARDS or high SOFA scores.
Scrub typhus hospitalization may strain resources in endemic areas; leaves open whether prevention reduces costs in severe cases.
Background & objectives: Scrub typhus is a rickettsial infection seen along the Asian-Pacific rim and imposes a considerable burden on affected people in low- and middle-income countries. The present study was aimed to determine the direct cost of hospitalization of scrub typhus and its trend over six years. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, hospital based study of individuals admitted to the hospital, diagnosed with scrub typhus over six years, from January 2013 to December 2018. The potential out of pocket expenditure was evaluated. Results: A total of 198 patients were included in the study. The median cost of admission (adjusted to INR 2020) for the six years (2013 to 2018) was found to be ₹ 37,026 (US $ 490) [interquartile range (IQR) 22,996-64,992]. The median cost for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) was ₹ 128,046 (US $ 1695) (IQR 71,575-201,171), while the cost for patients admitted to the ward-alone was ₹ 33,232 (US $ 440) (IQR 19,609-45,373). The multivariable analysis showed that ARDS and SOFA score were the independent predictors of ICU admission. Interpretation & conclusions: Hospitalisation for scrub typhus is associated with a substantial healthcare expense. The predictors of increased cost were the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, increasing sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and duration of hospital stay.
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John et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Scrub typhus (n=198). Hospitalization for scrub typhus was evaluated on Direct cost of hospitalization. Hospitalization for scrub typhus incurred a median cost of ₹ 37,026 (US $ 490), with higher costs driven by ARDS, shock, increasing SOFA score, and duration of hospital stay.
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