The cost of home enteral nutrition: an Australian audit
This work was presented at the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2023 by the Tube Dietitian Team.
The abstract has been published in the conference journal and can be found here.
Rationale: The use of home enteral nutrition is on the rise, with rates quadrupling over the last two decades in Victoria, Australia. Currently, there is limited research on the cost of home enteral nutrition. This study aimed to explore the cost associated with commercial formula and tube feeding equipment for Australian adults on home enteral nutrition.
Methods: This retrospective medical record audit used initial nutrition assessments from a community-based home enteral nutrition service in Victoria, Australia. The overall cost ($AUD) of commercial formula and equipment was determined per day and projected to 365 days. Cost data was analysed by the feeding delivery method (gravity syringe or pump). Descriptive statistics were performed.
Results: Fifty-two patients were included (50% males, 51 (18-96) years of age, 894 ml (237-1683 ml) average formula delivered per day). Majority had a neurological diagnosis (n=43, 83%), were on long-term feeding tubes (n=49, 94%) and gravity syringe delivery method (n=31, 60%). The average cost per patient per day was $21.20 ($4.49-$53.13), equating to $7738.00 (formula $5540.70, equipment $2197.30) per year. When the data was weighted based on the proportion of feeding tube types in the Australian home enteral nutrition population (82% on long-term tubes, 18% on short-term tubes), the weighted average cost was $8175.65 per year. Patients on pump feeding spent, on average, $5668.45 per year more than those on syringe gravity.
Conclusion: This audit uncovered the costs associated with home enteral nutrition, particularly the higher expense of using a pump delivery method. Clinicians should consider an individual’s access to insurance when making decisions around their home enteral nutrition care. Further research is required to verify these findings.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared