Continuity of Care Is Associated with Medical Costs and Inpatient Days in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

ABSTRACT: Background: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) place a considerable burden on medical costs and add to an increased number of inpatient days in Taiwan. Continuity of care (COC) has not been investigated in this population thus far. Materials and Methods: We designed a retrospective population-based cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients aged 0 to 18 years with CP catastrophic illness certificates were enrolled. We investigated the association of COC index (COCI) with medical costs and inpatient days. We also investigated the possible clinical characteristics affecting the outcome. Results: Over five years, children with CP with low COCI levels had higher medical costs and more inpatient days than did those with high COCI levels. Younger age at CP d

SUBMITTER: Yang KT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7215569 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature