Abstract
We analyzed healthcare costs and medical conditions for 2,008 veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/Ds) near end of life. The average age at SCI/D onset and/or occurrence was 42 years and at death was 66 years. The conditions that incurred the most costs included cancer (20.9%), influenza and/or pneumonia (15.1%), heart disease (13.5%), septicemia (5.9%), diabetes (5.3%), and stroke (5.1%). The average cost was $24,900 in the second year before end of life and reached $61,900 in the final year. Before end of life, costs accelerated during the final year from $3,100 in month 12 to $14,600 in the final month.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 831-840 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- Cancer
- Cause of death
- Costs
- Economics
- End of life
- Pneumonia
- Spinal cord diseases
- Spinal cord injury
- Veterans
- Veterans hospital
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
