Hospitalization costs associated with hypertension as a secondary diagnosis among insured patients aged 18-64 years.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We estimated the hospitalization costs associated with hypertension as a secondary diagnosis among insured adults aged 18-64 years by using data from 2005 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) inpatient admissions.

METHODS:

We analyzed costs for four patient groups (N = 455,944): (i) all selected patients; (ii) patients with the primary diagnosis of ischemic heart disease (IHD); (iii) patients with the primary diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease; and (iv) patients with neither IHD nor cerebrovascular disease as the primary diagnosis. We conducted propensity score matching to control possible bias in cost estimates due to sample selections and estimated the costs of hypertension by using a regression model on the matched populations that controlled for subjects' age, sex, length of hospital stay, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), region of residence, and urbanization of residence.

RESULTS:

For all patients with hypertension as a secondary diagnosis, the estimated average annual hospitalization cost per patient was $21,094, of which $2,734 (13%; P < 0.01) was associated with hypertension. The estimated average costs were $31,106 for patients with a primary diagnosis of IHD, $17,298 for those with a primary diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, and $18,693 for those without a primary diagnosis of IHD or cerebrovascular disease; hypertension-associated costs for these patients were $3,540 (11.4%; P < 0.01), $1,133 (6.5%; P < 0.01), and $2,254 (12.1%; P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hypertension-associated hospitalization costs are substantial among insured US patients aged 18-64 years with hypertension as a secondary diagnosis and suggest a need for cost-effective programs to prevent, manage, and control hypertension.

• Authors: Guijing Wang, Zefeng Zhang, Carma Ayala
• Journal: American journal of hypertension (Am J Hypertens) Vol. 23 Issue 3 Pg. 275-81 (Mar 2010) ISSN: 1941-7225 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20010701 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cerebrovascular Disorders (complications)
• Female
• Hospital Costs
• Hospitalization (economics)
• Humans
• Hypertension (complications, economics, therapy)
• Insurance Claim Review
• Insurance, Health (economics)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myocardial Ischemia (complications)
• United States
• Young Adult