Cost of acute stroke care in Toronto, Canada

Abstract

Background and Purpose Stroke cost consumes a large proportion of the gross domestic product in all developed countries, and while health care costs are rising, the ability to contain them is diminishing. Methods We calculated the cost of acute stroke care for all first admissions to a teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada, in 1991 through 1992 for 285 consecutive patients. Results The average cost per patient was $27 500 Canadian, and strokes in men cost less than in women ($23 000 versus $32 000 Canadian), for a total cost of $8 million Canadian over 2 years. More women died than men (34% versus 17%, P