Hospital financing of ischaemic stroke: determinants of funding and usefulness of DRG subcategories based on severity of illness.

Background: Several Western and Arab countries, as well as over 30 States in the US are using the "All-Patient Refined Diagnosis-Related Groups" (APR-DRGs) with four severity-of-illness (SOI) subcategories as a model for hospital funding. The aim of this study is to verify whether this is an adequate model for funding stroke hospital admissions, and to explore which risk factors and complications may influence the amount of funding.

Methods: A bottom-up analysis of 2496 ischaemic stroke admissions in Belgium compares detailed in-hospital resource use (including length of stay, imaging, lab tests, visits and drugs) per SOI category and calculates total hospitalisation costs.

Incidence of Torsade de Pointes in a tertiary hospital population.

Background: Multiple risk factors play a role in the development of QTc-prolongation and Torsade de Pointes (TdP). Cases of TdP are underreported and data on the incidence of TdP is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of TdP in a Belgian university hospital and describe the characteristics of TdP-cases using a risk score.

Cost of hospitalization for cerebrovascular disorders in Belgium.

Background: There is only scarce information on the incidence and costs of stroke in Belgium. Knowledge of these figures permits targeted allocation of resources and aids cost efficacy estimates.

Methods: We analysed a nationwide administrative database used for reimbursement of hospitals in Belgium.