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Multicenter Study
. 2024 Sep 9:83:469-474.
doi: 10.2340/aos.v83.41382.

Deep neck space infections of odontogenic origin are costly and preventable

Christina Hellgren  1 , Johan Hellgren  2 , Behnosh Öhrnell Malekzadeh  3
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Deep neck space infections of odontogenic origin are costly and preventable

Christina Hellgren et al. Acta Odontol Scand. .

Abstract

Objective: Deep neck space infections (DNSI), caused by the spread of an odontogenic infection to the floor of the mouth and neck, are potentially life-threatening but preventable. We explored the total cost of illness (COI) for patients with DNSI of odontogenic origin.

Material and methods: Cross-sectional, register-based, multi-centre study of the health economics of DNSI treatment. Included were patients aged > 18 years who were treated in hospital for DNSI of odontogenic origin. Subjects were identified from the regional healthcare database VEGA based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes and surgical procedure codes. The cost per patient (CPP) values for the hospital care, prescription medications and sick leave were extracted.

Results: In total, 148 patients were included. The average length of the hospital stay was 6 days. Total COI was estimated as 15,400 EUR per patient and 2,280,000 EUR in total. Direct costs accounted for 93% of the COI, and indirect costs were 7%.

Conclusion: The total COI for patients with DNSI of odontogenic origin was six-fold higher than the average COI for patients in otorhinolaryngology (ORL) care. Preventing DNSI will entail substantial cost savings for the specialised healthcare units and will have a significant impact on the patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there are no competing interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Length of stay in hospital (days) for the patients with deep neck space infections (DNSI) in Västra Götaland region (VGR) 2019 n = 148, % of patients on the y-axis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean cost per patient (CPP) in Swedish kronor (SEK) in 2019 value per patient with DNSI of odontogenic origin hospitalised in Västra Götaland region (VGR). Costs are stratified by cost for hospitalisation, cost for oral surgeon care., out-patient follow up visits and collected prescribed medicines. Cost in SEK and % of total mean CPP. ORL: otorhinolaryngology.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The distribution of total cost of illness (COI) on direct health care costs and indirect costs for lost production in 148 hospitalised patients with deep neck space infections (DNSI) of odontogenic origin in Västra Götaland region (VGR), Sweden in 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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