Abstract

SOLDEVILLA AGREDA, J. Javier et al. An approach to the economic impact of the treatment of pressure ulcers in Spain. Gerokomos [online]. 2007, vol.18, n.4, pp.43-52. ISSN 1134-928X.

Pressure ulcers are a seriuos and debilitating condition treated in all care settings and have a significant impact in both patients and healtcare resources. The objetive of this study was to estimate overall treatment costs to the Spanish healthcare system by using a bottom-up costing approach. This study demonstrates that the cost to heal a pressure ulcer increases substantially with the severity of the ulcer, ranging from € 24 ([$ 32.16], Grade I) to € 6.802 ([$ 9.115], Grade IV) for patients treated in hospitals. Ulcer severity increases overall cost because the time to heal is longer and the incidence of complications is higher in more severe cases. The total cost of pressure ulcer treatment in Spain is approximately 461 million ([$ 618 million], roughly 5% of total annual healthcare expenditure). Of this, 15% represents the cost of dressings and other materials, while 19% represents the cost of nursing time, and 45% represents the cost of ulcer-related hospital stys.

Keywords : Burden; pressure ulcers; Spain.

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