Economic Burden of COVID-19-Related Hospitalizations in Finland: A 4-year Longitudinal Analysis
Author(s)
Mikko Kosunen, MSc (Health Economics)1, Mari Lahelma, MD, PhD2, Outi Isomeri, MSc2, Ville Kainu, MD, PhD1.
1Pfizer Oy, Helsinki, Finland, 2Nordic Healthcare Group, Espoo, Finland.
1Pfizer Oy, Helsinki, Finland, 2Nordic Healthcare Group, Espoo, Finland.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the economic burden of COVID-19-related hospitalisations in different patient populations during 2021-2024 in Finland.
METHODS: COVID-19-related hospitalisations and length of stay (LoS) in primary care (PC) and specialty care (SC) from January 2021 to December 2024 for adult patients were collected from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s registries. Patients were stratified by risk factor status (none vs ≥1), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, neurological disorders or organ/stem cell transplant. Data were analysed by age group (18-59 vs ≥60 years) and risk group. Hospital day unit costs from national price lists were inflated to 2024 value.
RESULTS: A total of 69,187 hospitalisations and 765,058 COVID-19-related hospital days were analysed, with total hospitalisation costs during 2021-2024 estimated at €489.2 million (annual range €34.6-€180.9M). SC accounted for 60.1%, ≥60-year-old patients for 83.4%, and patients with ≥1 risk factors for 75.6% of the total costs. Total average LoS and cost per hospitalisation (CPH) were 7.6 days (annual range 6.8-9.6) and €7,093 (€6,334-€8,979) in SC, and 16.2 days (14.5-20.6) and €7,039 (€6,286-€8,937) in PC. Patients with ≥1 risk factor had longer LoS and higher CPH compared to patients without risk factors in PC (16.5 vs. 15.0 days; €7,168 vs. €6,496) and in SC (7.8 vs. 7.2 days; €7,276 vs. €6,677). Patients aged ≥60 years had longer LoS and higher CPH compared to younger patients in PC (16.4 vs. 12.7 days; €7,100 vs. €5,513) and SC (7.8 vs. 7.0 days; €7,310 vs. €6,527). Patients with cardiovascular diseases had the longest LoS and highest CPH (16.8 days; €7,265) in PC and patients with organ/stem cell transplant in SC (9.4 days; €8,768).
CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has posed a significant economic burden to Finnish healthcare system. Risk group patients should be acknowledged in healthcare resourcing during COVID peaks.
METHODS: COVID-19-related hospitalisations and length of stay (LoS) in primary care (PC) and specialty care (SC) from January 2021 to December 2024 for adult patients were collected from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s registries. Patients were stratified by risk factor status (none vs ≥1), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, neurological disorders or organ/stem cell transplant. Data were analysed by age group (18-59 vs ≥60 years) and risk group. Hospital day unit costs from national price lists were inflated to 2024 value.
RESULTS: A total of 69,187 hospitalisations and 765,058 COVID-19-related hospital days were analysed, with total hospitalisation costs during 2021-2024 estimated at €489.2 million (annual range €34.6-€180.9M). SC accounted for 60.1%, ≥60-year-old patients for 83.4%, and patients with ≥1 risk factors for 75.6% of the total costs. Total average LoS and cost per hospitalisation (CPH) were 7.6 days (annual range 6.8-9.6) and €7,093 (€6,334-€8,979) in SC, and 16.2 days (14.5-20.6) and €7,039 (€6,286-€8,937) in PC. Patients with ≥1 risk factor had longer LoS and higher CPH compared to patients without risk factors in PC (16.5 vs. 15.0 days; €7,168 vs. €6,496) and in SC (7.8 vs. 7.2 days; €7,276 vs. €6,677). Patients aged ≥60 years had longer LoS and higher CPH compared to younger patients in PC (16.4 vs. 12.7 days; €7,100 vs. €5,513) and SC (7.8 vs. 7.0 days; €7,310 vs. €6,527). Patients with cardiovascular diseases had the longest LoS and highest CPH (16.8 days; €7,265) in PC and patients with organ/stem cell transplant in SC (9.4 days; €8,768).
CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has posed a significant economic burden to Finnish healthcare system. Risk group patients should be acknowledged in healthcare resourcing during COVID peaks.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE359
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)