Introduction:

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the second leading cause of death in Colombia. The costs associated with IS were estimated to reach COP 5 billion during 2019.

Objective:

To describe the direct medical costs of patients suffering from IS in an institution in Bogotá during 2020.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional study analyzing the direct medical costs of hospital care for adults who experienced IS during 2020. Costs, length of stay, and clinical outcomes of patients who received thrombolysis were compared to those who did not.

Results:

Direct costs related to 132 IS patients were COP 1,218,970,831 in 2020 at our institution. The average price per patient was COP 7,845,073. Among hospital events, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic methods represented the highest proportion of costs (40 %), with head and neck angiography standing out. IS severity significantly influenced total costs (p = 0.018), as well as medication costs (p < 0.001), procedures (p < 0.001), and hospital stay (p < 0.029). Thrombolysis patients were 1.33 times more costly than those with medical management (p < 0.001), without significantly affecting the length of stay or mortality rate. Tracheitis (p < 0.001) and gastrostomy (p = 0.007) were associated complications that increased both costs and hospital stay.

Conclusion:

Intravenous thrombolysis in IS involves a significant increase in direct costs but reduces the burden of disability in treated patients. Costs increase with the severity of IS and the performance of specific additional procedures.

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