Estimating the Extra Inpatient Hospital Costs and Mortality Linked to Specific Hospital-Acquired Conditions

In our meta-analysis, we reviewed nearly 4,000 articles on hospital-acquired conditions (HACs), with 76.4% excluded based on title and abstract review. After further screening, we identified studies that provided reliable data on attributable costs and excess mortality for each HAC. The final analysis included varying numbers of studies for each condition, with C. difficile infections (CDI) contributing the most comprehensive literature—nine studies on costs and 13 on excess mortality. In contrast, conditions like falls and Obstetric Adverse Events (OBAE) had significantly fewer studies.

The meta-analysis estimated additional hospital costs for several HACs. For instance, the average cost for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) was $13,793, while central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) led to costs of $48,108. We also evaluated excess mortality, finding that conditions like CLABSI and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) showed the highest rates, with CLABSI having 0.15 excess deaths per case.

These findings highlight the significant financial and health burdens associated with hospital-acquired conditions, with infectious HACs generally contributing higher costs and mortality rates compared to non-infectious ones. Understanding these costs can guide hospital management strategies aimed at reducing the impact of these conditions on patient outcomes and healthcare resources.