INTEGRATED MALNUTRICION MANAGEMENT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT COSTS FOR ENTERAL NUTRITION HOME-BASED CARE VERSUS HOSPITAL-BASED CARE

Abstract

Rationale: Home enteral nutrition (HEN) has always been recognized as a life-saving procedure however with budget constraints, its cost-effectiveness has been questioned recently. From the patient's perspective, the increased life expectancy, the right to receive of choice where to receive treatment, and the increased interest in quality of life have influenced the development of home care services. The increasing demands on nutritional programs have encouraged the shift from expensive hospital services to home care and this study will prove the cost savings of doing it at home. Methods: The observational study of HEN patients was performed between January 2020 and January 2022. A two-year period cost analysis was taken in place in order to reveal savings with HEN and reduction of adverse outcomes. The in-hospital cost was derived from the average cost of hospitalization median days and the HEN cost was derived from the average cost of nutrients and disposable equipment. Results: Implementation of HEN reduces the incidence of infectious complications, the number of hospital admissions, and the length of hospital stay. With this study, we will try to demonstrate how it will be converted into cost savings. Conclusion: During the past two decades, home enteral nutrition (HEN) services have been established both in Portugal and Europe. The presente study will show that HEN improves clinical outcomes and decreases health care costs.