The incidence and cost of adverse events in Victorian hospitals 2003-04

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence of adverse events in patients admitted in the year 2003-04 to selected Victorian hospitals; to identify the main hospital-acquired diagnoses; and to estimate the cost of these complications to the Victorian and Australian health system. Design: The patient-level costing dataset for major Victorian public hospitals, 1 July 2003 - 30 June 2004, was analysed for adverse events by identifying C-prefixed diagnosis codes denoting complications, preventable or otherwise, arising during the course of hospital treatment. The in-hospital cost of adverse events was estimated using linear regression modelling, adjusting for age and comorbidity. Main outcome measure..