OBJECTIVES: To describe quantities and costs of healthcare use for acutely hospitalized older adults and identify the main cost driver in the subsequent year.

METHODS: Data was obtained from two cost registries for the 480 patients aged ≥70 years included in the IMMENSE trial investigating the impact of a medication optimization intervention at the University Hospital of North Norway. Costs and quantities for hospitalizations and hospital outpatient clinic visits were extracted from the hospital cost-per-patient register. Costs and quantities for visits to emergency rooms, general practitioners (GP), specialist physicians, primary care clinics and associated laboratory work were extracted from the Norwegian Health Economics Administration Database. Register linkage employing the Norwegian personal identification numbers and data were analyzed using linear regression.

RESULTS: Hospitalization, including the index hospitalization, had the highest unit cost (mean cost/visit: EUR 11,669 [95% CI: 10,946-12,602]; n=1,024). Hospital outpatient clinic visits had the second highest unit cost (mean cost/visit: EUR 346 [95% CI: 326-368]; n=2,563). The most frequent healthcare use were GP visits (mean cost/visit: EUR 46 [95% CI: 45-47]; n=3,519). The main cost driver was hospitalizations, with a total population cost of EUR 11,949,000 or mean cost per patient of EUR 24,900 per year.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequencies of other health care visits were higher, hospitalization was the cost component with the highest unit cost and was the main cost driver. Interventions targeting hospitalizations may have the potential to reduce healthcare costs for older adults after an acute hospitalization.