Assessment of Direct Medical Cost of Hospitalized COVID-19 Adult Patients in Kuwait During the First Wave of the Pandemic.

Objective: This study aims to estimate the direct medical cost of COVID-19 hospitalizations and to utilize prevalence estimates from Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital to estimate the direct medical cost of all hospitalized adult patients in Kuwait using a decision tree analysis.

Methods: A cost-of-illness model was developed. The Ministry of Health perspective was considered, direct medical costs were estimated from July 1st to September 30th, using a bottom-up approach.