Scorpion Envenomations in Southern Arizona: A Costing Study of Scorpion Stings

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the direct costs of scorpion envenomation events in the acute care setting for patients treated in a southern Arizona hospital. Methods: A chart review analysis of documented treatment of scorpion envenomations at a university hospital was conducted to compile demographic, drug use, and resource utilization information. Patients were selected based on an ICD-9 code diagnosis of scorpion envenomation within the years 1993 to 2001. Results: 103 patient charts were reviewed. The average length of stay was 1.21 days (range 0.5-6.5 days), the average age was 4.7 years (range 0.2-53 years old). Males comprised 54% of the patients, 51.9% Caucasian, 41.6% Hispanic, and 60.2% were from an urban setting. The average drug cost was $51.82 (SD=53.22). The total average cost in the entire population was $6,764.54, (SD= $3,866.55). The average cost of rural versus urban was $7,535.74 and $6,254.55, respectively (p=0.100). The average cost for male versus female was $6,949.64 and $6,520.90 (p= 0.581), and the average cost for the 0-3 years group was $6,721.10, the >3 years to 14 years group’s average cost was $6,643.33, and the >14 years of age group’s average cost was $8,578.42. None of the comparisons between age groups were statistically significant, with p values ranging from 0.274 to 0.922. Conclusions: Although scorpion envenomations were costly, there were no statistically significant differences noted between any of the comparison groups. Transportation, including air transport in the rural setting, did not account for a significant change in cost. Many of the patients that were envenomated in the rural setting were seen at a regional hospital and then transported as necessary.