OBJECTIVES:

This study described the differences in costs and length of stay (LOS) among patients with AMI who died versus survived using a large, nationally representative cohort of AMI patients.

METHODS:

The 2019 HCUP NIS was used to analyze costs, and LOS among all patients with a principal diagnosis of AMI. A propensity-score matched analysis and multivariable regression were used to adjust for patient and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS:

There were 4,559 visits in each of the cohorts (total 9,118). The adjusted mean hospital cost was $18,970 (95% CI $16,453 - $21,871) for those that survived and $23,173 (95% CI $20,167 - $26,626; p <0.001) for those that died. The LOS was 3.95 (95% CI 3.41 – 4.57) in survivors and 4.24 (95% CI 3.67– 4.89; p <0.001) in those who died.

CONCLUSIONS:

Survivors of AMI incurred lower costs and length of stay than those who died. Higher costs were attributed to greater LOS and higher-level care. The results suggest that economic evaluations of cardiovascular interventions that do not include the cost of dying may under estimate the benefits of the intervention.