The ED costs were found to be similar in the two groups.
The mean patient hospital charges for ED treatment in each treatment group were $404.56 (+/- 193.56) for levalbuterol and $422.30 (+/- 230.61) for racemic albuterol, (difference not statistically significant).
The corresponding collected funds amounted to $211.90 (+/- 107.56) for levalbuterol versus $207.16 (+/- 157.47) for racemic albuterol.
In terms of hospitalisation costs, with a mean length of stay of 3.8 days and an average per diem cost of $945, the mean hospitalisation cost was $3,625.
The cost per ED treatment was approximately $1.00 for the racemic isomer and $6.00 for levalbuterol.
Thus, for each 1,000 ED asthmatic patients presenting to the ED annually, the overall drug cost was $1,000 for albuterol and $6,000 for levalbuterol.
Considering admission costs, and with a projection of 150 admissions for each 1,000 patients treated with racemic albuterol versus 50 admissions for those treated with levalbuterol, the total costs of admission were $600,000 in the racemic albuterol group versus $200,000 in the levalbuterol group.
The inpatient cost-savings of $400,000 resulting from an investment of $5,000 cost for levalbuterol resulted in an 80:1 risk-benefit ratio favouring levalbuterol.