Is intensive care really that expensive?

Abstract

I ntensive-care units (ICUs) stand at the pinnacle of medical achievement. But they have a reputation for being resource-hungry black holes capable of devouring all the money thrown at them. However, as a letter in the BMJ recently notes, being resource hungry isn’t always the same as being cost inefficient. ICUs may, in fact, be more cost effective than HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and just as good value for money as some antihypertensives.