Predictors of Hospitalization Cost in Infants with Hypoglycemia

Abstract

Brook T. Alemu, Hind A. Beydoun, Matthew Hoch, Bonnie Van Lunen and Muge Akpinar-Elci

This study sought to determine the overall hospital cost estimates in neonates with hypoglycemia, compare hospital cost in premature and non-premature neonates, and identify predictors of increased hospital cost. The median (interquartile range) cost estimate in premature and non-premature neonates were $12,755 ($4,550-$30,339) and $2,360 ($1,153-$3,736), respectively. Increased cost was observed, when more than five procedures was performed during the same hospitalization (OR 10.13, 95 % CI 8.67-11.83, P < 0.0001), when hospital bed size medium (OR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.16-1.61, P =0.0002) or ≥ 400 (OR 1.65, 95 % CI 1.41-1.92, P < 0.0001), when hospital length of stay exceeded 15 days (OR 44.97, 95 % CI 41.49- 48.73, P < 0.0001), in teaching hospitals (OR 1.97, 95 % CI 1.82-2.13, P < 0.0001), in of the presence of chronic conditions (OR 2.46, 95 % CI 2.27-2.66, P < 0.0001), comorbidities (OR 2.11, 95 % CI 1.90-2.35, P < 0.0001), prematurity (OR 2.39, 95 % CI 2.20-2.60, P < 0.0001), and death (OR 2.95, 95 % CI 2.13-4.09, P < 0.0001). Neonates with hypoglycemia consumed 11% of resources associated with hospital births while accounting for only 1.5 % of hospitalization. This study identified factors associated with increased cost in neonatal hypoglycemia.

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