Drug costs in an intensive care unit: a proposed analytical approach based on applied quantitative methods

Abstract

Objective: Characterized as a search for empirical analytical nature, this research aims to propose a general methodology for analyzing costs related to medications taken by patients of the intensive care unit of a hospital in the state of Minas Gerais. Method: From a mathematical modeling based on multiple linear regression analysis was a set of information, primary sources, relating to 355 patients, a total of 6,750 observations during the year 2011 who had prescriptions for drugs under Z99.1 coding (depen[1]dence on respirator) Table on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, among other factors. Results: The research showed: (i) the total cost analysis is influenced by 26 groups of drugs varied natures, (ii) some variables related to patient characteristics (eg, sex / gender, color, age and weight) did not were statistically significant for the total cost composition analyzed, (iii) as an analytical tool cost, modeling researched proved to be sufficient to drive a deeper investigation of the nature of expenses related exclusively to ICU patients that institution. Conclusions: The modeling process of deriving this research can be used as a tool to support the forecast expenditures related to the cost of medications for patients who suffer from addiction respirator (CID.10 = Z99.1).