Cost of treating COVID-19 patients in hospital 3 times more expensive than heart attack sufferers: study
The Canadian Institute for Health Information has determined the cost of caring for a patient with COVID-19 in hospital is roughly four times that of treatment for influenza and triple the cost of a heart attack.
The report looked at January 2020 through to March of this year, so it doesn't account for the hospital costs associated with Canada's third and fourth waves of the pandemic.
The average cost per hospitalization of a COVID-19 patient in Canada is estimated to be $23,000.
A kidney transplant is the only treatment the report found to be more costly at about $27,000 and those procedures involve a surgical team.
Admissions to intensive care units double to an average of $50,000 per COVID-19 patient, roughly double the cost of emergency room admission.
The estimated total cost of all COVID-19 hospital stays in Canada —excluding Quebec —is $1 billion.
The report found that one-in-five patients came through the emergency room and soon transferred to the ICU.
A Calgary emergency medicine doctor says ICU stays are expensive because of the number of highly trained staff, complex equipment and medical supplies required to keep people alive.
"I don't wish anyone to need the experience of the intensive care unit," said Dr. Raj Bhardwaj. "It's called intensive care for a reason."
He says public health measures and interventions could have prevented the number of cases that led to severe outcomes and the associated hospitalization costs.
"Really, that's a health care cost of not providing good public health care and if public health is doing a good job, none of these costs are accrued. None of these people get sick, none of these people die, none of these families are affected when public health does a good job."
He says vaccine uptake must increase in order to help alleviate the pressure on Alberta hospitals and slow the spread of the virus — in addition to continuing to test, trace and isolate for positive cases.
"Go get vaccinated. It works. It keeps you out of the ICU."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.