The cost of rehabilitation after critical illness: a comparison of hospitalization costs for traumatic brain injury and non-traumatic brain injury patients with disorders of consciousness

Hospitalization cost structures were similar across etiologies, emphasizing value-driven care priorities. Key factors associated with higher hospitalization costs included non-TBI etiology, local residency, medical insurance, LOS, self-employment status, surgery, and TCM. These findings highlight key drivers of healthcare costs in DoC care, emphasizing the need for targeted policy interventions. However, given the limitations of this study, further research with larger, more diverse samples is essential to comprehensively assess the impact of costs on patient outcomes and care quality.