In the in-hospital monitoring group significantly more women were hospitalised after delivery compared to the domiciliary group (93.2% vs. 61.8% respectively, p<0.001). The median duration of observation during the antenatal period was similar between groups: 8 days (range: 3 - 18) vs. 8 days (range: 4 - 17), p=0.909). The length of the maternal and neonatal postpartum stay did not differ significantly. Among neonates, those randomised to the domiciliary group were hospitalised at the maternity ward for a significantly shorter time: 2 days (range: 1 - 5) vs. 0 days (range: 0 - 4), p=0.013).
The mean (SD) postpartum costs were $3,433 ($4,273) for the in-hospital group and $3,480 ($5,895) for the domiciliary group. Antenatal costs were reported to be $14,280 or less for the in-hospital monitoring group and $9,266 or less for the domiciliary group. Mean (SD) total costs were $3,558 ($2,841) in the in-hospital monitoring group and $1,521 ($1,459) in the domiciliary monitoring group; a difference of $2,037 (p<0.001)
If all women allocated to their groups were to stay in those groups, the cost difference would amount to $3,378 per woman, but if women no longer at high-risk were discharged, and other women were hospitalised for genuine social or clinical reasons, the cost difference would be $1,787 per woman (adjusted for a minor imbalance in the number of days in antenatal observation). Sensitivity analysis showed that this cost difference was particularly sensitive to changes affecting the costs of hospital-based care and the costs of domiciliary monitoring sessions. A 50% reduction in the cost of hospital nursing care would reduce the mean overall cost difference by 62%; a 50% reduction in the costs of domiciliary monitoring sessions would increase the cost difference by 13%.