Effects of Preoperative Risk Stratification on Direct In-hospital Costs for Chinese Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: A Single Center Analysis

Summary

The purpose of this study was to analyze the components of inpatient costs for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) according to preoperative risk stratification and to provide evidence for improvement of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) payment. All patients (n=458) receiving an isolated CABG between January 2014 and December 2016 in a tertiary referral center, in southwest China, were analyzed. Hospital mortality was predicted by the EuroSCORE II for each patient. The patients were subdivided into two groups according to the observed mortality (1.97%, 9/458): a high-risk group (group H, predicted mortality ≥1.97%) and a low-risk group (group L, predicted mortality <1.97%). Clinical outcomes, resource use, in-hospital direct costs, and reimbursement expenses were compared between the two groups. Significant differences existed between group L and group H in postoperative mortality (0.4% vs. 3.4%; P=0.02), postoperative complications (10.6% vs. 45.7%; P<0.001), postoperative length of hospital stay (17.5±4.9 days vs. 18.8±6.5 days, P=0.01), in-hospital costs ($20 256±3096 vs. $23 334±6332; P<0.001), and reimbursement expenses ($7775±2627 vs. $9639±3917; P<0.001). In general, a higher EuroSCORE II was significantly associated with a worse clinical outcome and increased costs. The CABG cost data provide evidence for improvement of DRGs payment.