A comparative analysis of the patient characteristics and cost of managing intravenous drug users (IVDU) with soft tissue abscesses with non-IVDU.
Surgeon
; 14(1): 13-7, 2016 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25201626
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Intravenous drug users (IVDU) often present to hospitals with complex co-morbidities, associated with prolonged in-patient admissions. The aim of this study was to compare a cohort of IVDU patients with soft tissue abscesses with non-IVDUs. We analysed the demographics, comorbidities, location of abscesses, multidisciplinary input and financial costs of managing both groups.METHODS:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2010 and September 2013. Two age and sex matched cohorts were compared IVDU and non-IVDU.RESULTS:
We identified 44 IVDU patients and 54 non-IVDU patients. The IVDU had higher rates of smoking (89% p < 0.001) and unemployment (73% p < 0.05). The most common comorbidities in the IVDU cohort were hepatitis C (17%) and HIV (14%), whereas diabetes mellitus (15%) and hypertension (11%) were the most common in the non-IVDUs (p < 0.01). The most common location for an abscess in non-IVDU patients was the hand, whereas IVDU patients had abscesses in their groin. Groin injecting led to a referral to multiple specialties. The median length of stay for the IVDU patients was 4 days and for non-IVDU patients 1 day (p < 0.01). The average cost of managing IVDU patients in our unit was £1280 for non- IVDU the cost was £530 (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:
IVDU patients with soft tissue abscesses have higher rates of smoking, unemployment, infection with hepatitis C and HIV compared to a control group. We have suggested several recommendations to optimise the management of these patients including the implementation of an additional code to compensate for the complexity of their management.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Abuso de Substâncias por Via Intravenosa
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Custos de Cuidados de Saúde
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Gerenciamento Clínico
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Abscesso
Tipo de estudo:
Health_economic_evaluation
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Incidence_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article