Hidden costs associated with venous thromboembolism: impact of lost productivity on employers and employees.

OBJECTIVE: To determine productivity loss and indirect costs with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: Medical and pharmacy claims with short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) claims from 2007 to 2010 were analyzed from the Integrated Benefits Institute's Health and Productivity Benchmarking (IBI-HPB) database (STD and LTD claims) and IMS LifeLink™ data (medical and pharmacy claims), which were indirectly linked using a weighting approach matching from IBI-HPB patients' demographic distribution. RESULTS: A total of 5442 DVT and 6199 PE claims were identified. Employees with DVT lost 57 STD and 440 LTD days per disability incident. The average per claim productivity loss from STD and LTD was $7414 and $58181, respectively. Employees with PE lost 56 STD and 364 LTD days per disability incident. The average per claim productivity loss from STD and LTD was $7605 and $48,751, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Deep vein thrombosis and PE impose substantial economic burdens.

The economic burden of acute coronary syndromes for employees and their dependents: medical and productivity costs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the total burden of illness, including direct and indirect costs for employees and their dependents with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Medical and pharmacy claims along with short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) claims from 2007 to 2010 were analyzed using two data sets: Integrated Benefits Institute's Health and Productivity Benchmarking Database (STD and LTD claims) and IMS LifeLink™ Health Plan Data (medical and pharmacy claims). RESULTS: Employees with ACS lost 60.2 ± 0.29 STD and 397.9 ± 8.09 LTD days per disability incident. For employers, the estimated average per claim productivity loss from STD and LTD was $7943 ± 39.7 and $52,473 ± 1114, respectively. Total annual ACS health care costs per employee were $8170 ± 106, with $7545 ± 104 for annual medical costs. Hospitalizations accounted for 75% of total annual ACS health care costs. CONCLUSIONS: ACS imposes a substantial economic burden on employees, employers, and society.