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. 2017 Nov/Dec;32(6):E45-E53.
doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000297.

Treatment Charges for Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults at a Trauma Center

Jennifer S Albrecht  1 , Julia F Slejko, Deborah M Stein, Gordon S Smith
Affiliations

Treatment Charges for Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults at a Trauma Center

Jennifer S Albrecht et al. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2017 Nov/Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To provide charge estimates of treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), including both hospital and physician charges, among adults 65 years and older treated at a trauma center.

Methods: We identified older adults treated for TBI during 2008-2012 (n = 1843) at Maryland's Primary Adult Resource Center and obtained hospital and physician charges separately. Analyses were stratified by sex and all charges were inflated to 2012 dollars. Total TBI charges were modeled as a function of covariates using a generalized linear model.

Results: Women comprised 48% of the sample. The mean unadjusted total TBI hospitalization charge for adults 65 years and older was $36 075 (standard deviation, $63 073). Physician charges comprised 15% of total charges. Adjusted mean charges were lower in women than in men (adjusted difference, -$894; 95% confidence interval, -$277 to -$1512). Length of hospital and intensive care unit stay were associated with the highest charges.

Conclusions: This study provides the first estimates of hospital and physician charges associated with hospitalization for TBI among older adults at a trauma center that will aid in resource allocation, triage decisions, and healthcare policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author Disclosure Statement

No competing financial interests exist.

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