Costs and health care resource utilization among Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia. However, published studies of CLL have either only focused on costs among individuals diagnosed with CLL without a non-CLL comparator group or focused on costs associated with specific CLL treatments. An examination of utilization and costs across different care settings provides a holistic view of utilization associated with CLL. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the health care costs and resource utilization types attributable to CLL among Medicare beneficiaries and identify predictors associated with each of the economic outcomes among beneficiaries diagnosed with CLL. METHODS: This retrospective study used a random 20% sample of the Medicare Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse (CCW) database covering the 2017-2019 period. The study population consisted of individuals with and without CLL. The CLL cohort and non-CLL cohort were matched using a 1:5 hard match based on baseline categorical variables. We characterized economic outcomes over 360 days across cost categories and places of services. We estimated average marginal effects using multivariable generalized linear regression models of total costs and across type of services. Total cost was compared between CLL and non-CLL cohorts using the matched sample. We used generalized linear models appropriate for the count or binary outcome to identify factors associated with various categories of health care resource utilization, such as inpatient admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and oncologist/hematologist visits. RESULTS: A total of 2,736 beneficiaries in the CLL cohort and 13,571 beneficiaries in the non-CLL matched cohort were identified. Compared with the non-CLL cohort, the annual cost for the CLL cohort was higher (CLL vs non-CLL, mean [SD]: $22,781 [$37,592] vs $13,901 [$24,725]), mainly driven by health care provider costs ($6,535 vs $3,915) and Part D prescription drug costs ($5,916 vs $2,556). The main categories of health care resource utilization were physician evaluation/management visits, oncologist/hematologist visits, and laboratory services. Compared with beneficiaries aged 65-74 years, beneficiaries aged 85 years or older had lower use and cost in maintenance services (ie, oncologist visits, hospital outpatient costs, and prescription drug cost) but higher use and cost in acute services (ie, ED). Compared with residency in a metropolitan area, living in a nonmetropolitan area was associated with fewer physician visits but higher ED visits and hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: The cooccurrence of lower utilization of routine care services, along with higher utilization of acute care services among some individuals, has implications for patient burden and warrants further study.

Association Between Sleep Apnea Treatment and Health Care Resource Use in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to the generation, recurrence, and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation, and it is associated with worse outcomes. Little is known about the economic impact of OSA therapy in atrial fibrillation. This retrospective cohort study assessed the impact of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy adherence on health care resource use and costs in patients with OSA and atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Insurance claims data for ≥1 year before sleep testing and 2 years after device setup were linked with objective PAP therapy use data. PAP adherence was defined from an extension of the US Medicare 90-day definition. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to create covariate-balanced PAP adherence groups to mitigate confounding. Of 5867 patients (32% women; mean age, 62.7 years), 41% were adherent, 38% were intermediate, and 21% were nonadherent. Mean±SD number of all-cause emergency department visits (0.61±1.21 versus 0.77±1.55 [P=0.023] versus 0.95±1.90 [P<0.001]), all-cause hospitalizations (0.19±0.69 versus 0.24±0.72 [P=0.002] versus 0.34±1.16 [P<0.001]), and cardiac-related hospitalizations (0.06±0.26 versus 0.09±0.41 [P=0.023] versus 0.10±0.44 [P=0.004]) were significantly lower in adherent versus intermediate and nonadherent patients, as were all-cause inpatient costs ($2200±$8054 versus $3274±$12 065 [P=0.002] versus $4483±$16 499 [P<0.001]). All-cause emergency department costs were significantly lower in adherent and intermediate versus nonadherent patients ($499±$1229 and $563±$1292 versus $691±$1652 [P<0.001 and P=0.002], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest clinical and economic benefits of PAP therapy in patients with concomitant OSA and atrial fibrillation. This supports the value of diagnosing and managing OSA and highlights the need for strategies to enhance PAP adherence in this population.

Impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on resource utilization and costs in patients with exacerbated non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

AIMS: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a chronic progressive respiratory disorder occurring at a rate ranging from 4.2 to 278.1 cases per 100,000 persons, depending on age, in the United States. For many patients with NCFB, the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) makes treatment more complicated and typically has worse outcomes. Management of NCFB can be challenging, warranting a better understanding of the burden of illness for NCFB, treatments applied, healthcare resources used, and subsequent treatment costs. Comparing patients diagnosed with exacerbated NCFB, with or without PA on antibiotic utilization, treatments, and healthcare resources utilization and costs was the purpose of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of commercial claims from IQVIA's PharMetrics Plus database (January 1,2006-December 31, 2020). Study patients with a diagnosis of NCFB were stratified into two groups based on the presence or absence of PA, then followed to identify demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, antibiotic treatment regimen prescribed, healthcare resources utilized, and costs of care. RESULTS: The results showed that patients with exacerbated NCFB who were PA+ had significantly more oral antibiotic fills per patient per year, more inpatient admissions with a longer length of stay, and more outpatient encounters than those who were PA-. For costs, PA+ patients also had significantly greater total healthcare costs per patient when compared to those who were PA-. CONCLUSION: Exacerbated NCFB with PA+ was associated with increased antibiotic usage, greater resource utilization, and increased costs. The major contributor to the cost differences was the use of inpatient services. Treatment strategies aimed at reducing the need for inpatient treatment could lessen the disparities observed in patients with NCFB.

Diagnosing and characterizing inflammatory myopathies at an Australian tertiary public hospital: Resource utilization and direct healthcare costs.

AIM: To determine the direct health service costs and resource utilization associated with diagnosing and characterizing idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), and to assess for limitations and diagnostic delay in current practice. METHODS: A retrospective, single-center cohort analysis of all patients diagnosed with IIMs between January 2012 and December 2021 in a large tertiary public hospital was conducted. Demographics, resource utilization and costs associated with diagnosing IIM and characterizing disease manifestations were identified using the hospital's electronic medical record and Health Intelligence Unit, and the Medicare Benefits Schedule. RESULTS: Thirty-eight IIM patients were identified. IIM subtypes included dermatomyositis (34.2%), inclusion body myositis (18.4%), immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (18.4%), polymyositis (15.8%), and anti-synthetase syndrome (13.2%). The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 212 days (IQR: 118-722), while the median time from hospital presentation to diagnosis was 30 days (8-120). Seventy-six percent of patients required emergent hospitalization during their diagnosis, with a median length of stay of 8 days (4-15). The average total cost of diagnosing IIM was $15 618 AUD (STD: 11331) per patient. Fifty percent of patients underwent both MRI and EMG to identify affected muscles, 10% underwent both pan-CT and PET-CT for malignancy detection, and 5% underwent both open surgical and percutaneous muscle biopsies. Autoimmune serology was unnecessarily repeated in 37% of patients. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of IIMs requires substantial and costly resource use; however, our study has identified potential limitations in current practice and highlighted the need for streamlined diagnostic algorithms to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare-related economic burden.

Real-world total cost of care by line of therapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

AIMS: There are multiple recently approved treatments and a lack of clear standard-of-care therapies for relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). While total cost of care (TCC) by the number of lines of therapy (LoTs) has been evaluated, more recent cost estimates using real-world data are needed. This analysis assessed real-world TCC of R/R DLBCL therapies by LoT using the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus database (1 January 2015-31 December 2021), in US patients aged ≥18 years treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) or an R-CHOP-like regimen as first-line therapy. METHODS: Treatment costs and resources in the R/R setting were assessed by LoT. A sensitivity analysis identified any potential confounding of the results caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare utilization and costs. Overall, 310 patients receiving a second- or later-line treatment were included; baseline characteristics were similar across LoTs. Inpatient costs represented the highest percentage of total costs, followed by outpatient and pharmacy costs. RESULTS: Mean TCC per-patient-per-month generally increased by LoT ($40,604, $48,630, and $59,499 for second-, third- and fourth-line treatments, respectively). Costs were highest for fourth-line treatment for all healthcare resource utilization categories. Sensitivity analysis findings were consistent with the overall analysis, indicating results were not confounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. LIMITATIONS: There was potential misclassification of LoT; claims data were processed through an algorithm, possibly introducing errors. A low number of patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients who switched insurance plans, had insurance terminated, or whose enrollment period met the end of data availability may have had truncated follow-up, potentially resulting in underestimated costs. CONCLUSION: Total healthcare costs increased with each additional LoT in the R/R DLBCL setting. Further improvements of first-line treatments that reduce the need for subsequent LoTs would potentially lessen the economic burden of DLBCL.

Healthcare Resource Utilization and Cost-of-Illness in Systemic Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis in Europe: Results From the Real-World, Retrospective EMN23 Study.

OBJECTIVES: To report healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and safety outcomes in systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis from the EMN23 study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective, observational, multinational EMN23 study included 4,480 patients initiating first-line treatment for AL amyloidosis in 2004-2018 and assessed, among other objectives, HCRU and safety outcomes. HCRU included hospitalizations, examinations, and dialysis; safety included serious adverse events (SAEs) and adverse events of special interest (AESIs). Data were descriptively analyzed by select prognostic factors (e.g., cardiac staging by Mayo2004/European) for 2004-2010 and 2011-2018. A cost-of-illness analysis was conducted for the UK and Spain. RESULTS: HCRU/safety and dialysis data were extracted for 674 and 774 patients, respectively. Of patients with assessed cardiac stage (2004-2010: 159; 2011-2018: 387), 67.9% and 61.0% had ≥ 1 hospitalization, 56.0% and 51.4% had ≥ 1 SAE, and 31.4% and 28.9% had ≥ 1 AESI across all cardiac stages in 2004-2010 and 2011-2018, respectively. The per-patient-per-year length of hospitalization increased with disease severity (cardiac stage). Of patients with dialysis data (2004-2010: 176; 2011-2018: 453), 23.9% and 14.8% had ≥ 1 dialysis session across all cardiac stages in 2004-2010 and 2011-2018, respectively. The annual cost-of-illness was estimated at €40,961,066 and €31,904,386 for the UK and Spain, respectively; dialysis accounted for ∼28% (UK) and ∼35% (Spain) of the total AL amyloidosis costs. CONCLUSIONS: EMN23 showed that the burden of AL amyloidosis is substantial, highlighting the need for early disease diagnosis and effective treatments targeting the underlying pathology.

Healthcare Resource Utilization and Cost Associated with Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review summarizes the evidence regarding healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This study was conducted in accordance with the Joanne Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. The PubMed, Embase, and Health Business Elite Electronic databases were searched, in addition to grey literature. The databases were searched from inception up to November 2022. Studies that reported HRU and/or costs associated with adult (≥18 years) allo-HSCT were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently screened 20% of the sample at each of the 2 stages of screening (abstract and full text). Details of the HRU and costs extracted from the study data were summarized, based on the elements and timeframes reported. HRU measures and costs were combined across studies reporting results defined in a comparable manner. Monetary values were standardized to 2022 US Dollars (USD). We identified 43 studies that reported HRU, costs, or both for allo-HSCT. Of these studies, 93.0% reported on costs, 81.4% reported on HRU, and 74.4% reported on both. HRU measures and cost calculations, including the timeframe for which they were reported, were heterogeneous across the studies. Length of hospital stay was the most frequently reported HRU measure (76.7% of studies) and ranged from a median initial hospitalization of 10 days (reduced-intensity conditioning [RIC]) to 73 days (myeloablative conditioning). The total cost of an allo-HSCT ranged from $63,096 (RIC) to $782,190 (double umbilical cord blood transplantation) at 100 days and from $69,218 (RIC) to $637,193 at 1 year (not stratified). There is heterogeneity in the reporting of HRU and costs associated with allo-HSCT in the literature, making it difficult for clinicians, policymakers, and governments to draw definitive conclusions regarding the resources required for the delivery of these services. Nevertheless, to ensure that access to healthcare meets the necessary high cost and resource demands of allo-HSCT, it is imperative for clinicians, policymakers, and government officials to be aware of both the short- and long-term health resource requirements for this patient population. Further research is needed to understand the key determinants of HRU and costs associated with allo-HSCT to better inform the design and delivery of health care for HSCT recipients and ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of care.

Occult, undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased health care resource utilization and costs among older adults with comorbid depression: a retrospective cohort study among Medicare beneficiaries.

Obstructive sleep apnea and depression are highly comorbid among older adults, and each is associated with increased economic costs and health care resource utilization. The purpose of this study was to determine the economic burden of comorbid occult obstructive sleep apnea among a random sample of older adult Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Among 41,500 participants with preexisting depression and meeting inclusion criteria, 4,573 (11%) had occult OSA. In fully adjusted models, beneficiaries with occult OSA were heavier users of inpatient (rate ratio: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.39, 1.67), outpatient (rate ratio: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.27), emergency department (rate ratio: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.35, 1.63), and prescription (rate ratio: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.14) services. Mean total costs were also significantly higher among beneficiaries with occult OSA ($44,390; 95% CI: $32,076, $56,703). CITATION: Wickwire EM, Albrecht JS. Occult, undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased health care resource utilization and costs among older adults with comorbid depression: a retrospective cohort study among Medicare beneficiaries. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(5):817-819.

Time Costs and Out-of-Pocket Costs in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C in a Publicly Funded Health System.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection affects more than 70 million people worldwide and imposes considerable health and economic burdens on patients and society. This study estimated 2 understudied components of the economic burden, patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs and time costs, in patients with CHC in a tertiary hospital clinic setting and a community clinic setting. METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study with hospital-based (n = 174) and community-based (n = 101) cohorts. We used a standardized instrument to collect healthcare resource use, time, and OOP costs. OOP costs included patient-borne costs for medical services, nonprescription drugs, and nonmedical expenses related to healthcare visits. Patient and caregiver time costs were estimated using an hourly wage value derived from patient-reported employment income and, where missing, derived from the Canadian census. Sensitivity analysis explored alternative methods of valuing time. Costs were reported in 2020 Canadian dollars. RESULTS: The mean 3-month OOP cost was $55 (95% confidence interval [CI] $21-$89) and $299 (95% CI $170-$427) for the community and hospital cohorts, respectively. The mean 3-month patient time cost was $743 (95% CI $485-$1002) (community) and $465 (95% CI $248-$682) (hospital). The mean 3-month caregiver time cost was $31 (95% CI $0-$63) (community) and $277 (95% CI $174-$380) (hospital). Patients with decompensated cirrhosis bore the highest costs. CONCLUSIONS: OOP costs and patient and caregiver time costs represent a considerable economic burden to patient with CHC, equivalent to 14% and 21% of the reported total 3-month income for the hospital-based and community-based cohorts, respectively.

Pragmatic sedation strategies to prevent secondary brain injury in low-resource settings.

Traumatic brain injury is the alteration in brain function due to an external force. It is common and affects millions of people worldwide annually. The World Health Organization estimates that 90% of global deaths caused by injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries, with traumatic brain injury contributing up to half of these trauma-related deaths. Patients with traumatic brain injury in low- and middle-income countries have twice the odds of dying compared with their counterparts in high-income countries. Sedation is a key element of care in the management of traumatic brain injury, used for its neuroprotective effects and to prevent secondary brain injury. While sedatives have the potential to improve outcomes, they can be challenging to administer and have potentially dangerous complications. Sedation in low-resource settings should aim to be effective, safe, affordable and feasible. In this paper, we summarise the indications for sedation in traumatic brain injury, the choice of sedative drugs and the pragmatic management and monitoring of sedated traumatic brain injury patients in low-resource settings.

A Brazilian cost-utility analysis of trabecular micro-bypass with iStent inject® for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma / Análise de custo-utilidade do implante trabecular iStent inject® para o tratamento do glaucoma de ângulo aberto no Brasil

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the cost-utility of the iStent inject® for the treatment of mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG) within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Methods A Markov model was developed, in which the effectiveness outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER: R$ / QALY quality-adjusted life-year). Direct medical costs were obtained from the SUS perspective. The base case comprised of a hypothetical cohort of patients with OAG using topical medication and being managed according to the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines (PCDT) and a real-world setting based on data from Datasus. The model's robustness through sensitivity analyses was tested. Results In the PCDT base case setting, the trabecular micro-bypass implant provided gains of 0.47 QALYs and an ICER of R$7,996.66/QALY compared to treatment with topical medication. In the real-world setting based on data from Datasus, the trabecular micro-bypass implant, provided gains of 0.47 QALYs and an ICER of R$4,485.68/QALY compared to treatment with topical medication. The results were robust to sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Incorporating iStent inject® to SUS provides an improvement in the patient's quality of life with an additional cost that warrants the benefit provided to patients. Results may be considered cost-effective compared to topical medication.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a relação custo-utilidade do iStent inject® para o tratamento do glaucoma de ângulo aberto leve a moderado no Sistema Único de Saúde. Métodos Foi desenvolvido um modelo de Markov, no qual a medida de resultado de efetividade foi a razão custo-efetividade incremental (razão de custo-efetividade incremental: R$/ano de vida ajustado pela qualidade). Os custos médicos diretos foram obtidos por meio da perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde. O caso base foi composto de uma coorte hipotética de pacientes com glaucoma de ângulo aberto em uso de medicação tópica tratados de acordo com o Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas e um cenário do mundo real baseado em dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde. Foi testada a robustez do modelo por meio de análises de sensibilidade. Resultados No cenário base do Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas, o implante trabecular micro-bypass proporcionou ganhos de 0,47 ano de vida ajustado pela qualidade e razão de custo-efetividade incremental de R$7.996,66/ano de vida ajustado pela qualidade em relação ao tratamento com medicação tópica. No cenário real baseado em dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde, o implante trabecular proporcionou ganhos de 0,47 ano de vida ajustado pela qualidade e razão de custo-efetividade incremental de R$ 4.485,68/ano de vida ajustado pela qualidade em relação ao tratamento com medicação tópica. Os resultados foram robustos para análises de sensibilidade. Conclusão A incorporação do iStent inject® ao Sistema Único de Saúde proporciona melhora na qualidade de vida do paciente com um custo adicional que garante o benefício proporcionado a eles. Os resultados podem ser considerados custo-efetivos em comparação com a medicação tópica.

An evaluation of the healthcare costs of metastatic breast cancer: A retrospective matched cohort study.

ABSTRACT: To determine the economic burden of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in Taiwan, we conducted a national retrospective claim database analysis to evaluate the incremental healthcare costs and utilization of MBC patients as compared to their breast cancer (BC) and breast cancer free (BCF) counterparts.Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Claim Database and the Taiwan Cancer Registry database between 2012 and 2015. All healthcare utilization and costs were calculated on a per-patient-per-month (PPPM) basis and were compared among groups using the generalized linear model adjusting for age group, residential area, and Charlson comorbidity index group.A total of 1,606 MBC patients were matched to 6,424 BC patients and 6,424 BCF patients. The majority of overall MBC healthcare costs were attributed to outpatient costs (75.1%), followed by inpatient (23.2%) and emergency room costs (1.7%). The PPPM total healthcare costs of the MBC, BC, and BCF groups were TWD 7,422, 14,425, and 2,114, respectively. The adjusted PPPM total healthcare cost ratio of MBC to BCF was 4.1. Compared to BCF patients, the patients receiving both human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-targeted therapy and endocrine therapy incurred 28.1 times PPPM total costs. The adjusted PPPM total healthcare cost ratio of recurrent MBC to BCF was 2.3, while the ratio was 12.2 in the de novo MBC group.Patients with MBC are associated with substantial economic burden, particularly in outpatient costs. The study findings could be useful for MBC-related economic evaluations and health resource allocation.

Overcoming the challenges in diagnosis of AQP4-IgG positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in resource poor settings using an indigenized and cost effective cell based assay.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in India is hindered by limited access to cost effective and sensitive assays for detection of aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) in India. OBJECTIVE: To develop a cost effective, sensitive, cell based assay (CBA) for detection of AQP4-IgG and to evaluate the serological status in patients with NMOSD diagnosed by 2015 diagnostic criteria. METHOD: Stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line expressing aquaporin M23 isomer was established. A fixed CBA was developed and validated in 381 samples including clinically definite NMOSD (n = 87), high risk NMOSD (n = 51), other demyelinating disorders (n = 92), other neurological disorders (n = 51) and healthy volunteers (n = 100). We tested the same samples again using a commercially available CBA and compared the results. All assays were performed by 2 independent investigators blinded to clinical and serological status. RESULTS: Our "in house"(Mangalore) assay showed sensitivity of 81.6% (95% CI 71.86-89.11%) for clinically definite NMOSD and 29.41% (95% CI 17.50-43.8%) for high risk NMOSD. Specificity was 100% for both groups. Both assays showed similar results for 67/ 87 (77.01%) patients with definite NMOSD while 4 samples tested positive by our assay alone (Cohen's kappa coefficient [K] - 0.86). Among the high risk group 14/51 (27.5%) samples showed similar results, one patient additionally was positive by the Mangalore assay (K - 0.95).

Comparison of hospitalization outcomes for delivery and resource utilization between pregnant women with kidney transplants and chronic kidney disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess outcomes of delivery hospitalizations, including acute kidney injury (AKI), obstetric and foetal events and resource utilization among pregnant women with kidney transplants compared with pregnant women with no known kidney disease and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stages 3-5. METHOD: Hospitalizations for delivery in the US were identified using the enhanced delivery identification method in the National Inpatient Sample dataset from the years 2009 to 2014. Diagnoses of CKD Stages 3-5, kidney transplantation, along with obstetric events, delivery methods and foetal events were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. Patients with no known kidney disease group were identified by excluding any diagnoses of CKD, end stage kidney disease, and kidney transplant. Multivariable logistic regression accounting for the survey weights and matched regression was conducted to investigate the risk of maternal and foetal complications in women with kidney transplants, compared with women with no kidney transplants and no known kidney disease, and to women with CKD Stages 3-5. RESULT: A total of 5, 408, 215 hospitalizations resulting in deliveries were identified from 2009 to 2014, including 405 women with CKD Stages 3-5, 295 women with functioning kidney transplants, and 5, 405, 499 women with no known kidney disease. Compared with pregnant women with no known kidney disease, pregnant kidney transplant recipients were at higher odds of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR = 3.11, 95% CI [2.26, 4.28]), preeclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (OR = 3.42, 95% CI [2.54, 4.60]), preterm delivery (OR = 2.46, 95% CI [1.75, 3.45]), foetal growth restriction (OR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.01, 3.00]) and AKI (OR = 10.46, 95% CI [5.33, 20.56]). There were no significant differences in rates of gestational diabetes or caesarean section. Pregnant women with kidney transplants had 1.30-times longer lengths of stay and 1.28-times higher costs of hospitalization. However, pregnant women with CKD Stages 3-5 were at higher odds of AKI (OR = 5.29, 95% CI [2.41, 11.59]), preeclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (OR = 1.72, 95% CI [1.07, 2.76]) and foetal deaths (OR = 3.20, 95% CI [1.06, 10.24]), and had 1.28-times longer hospital stays and 1.37-times higher costs of hospitalization compared with pregnant women with kidney transplant. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with kidney transplant were more likely to experience adverse events during delivery and had longer lengths of stay and higher total charges when compared with women with no known kidney disease. However, pregnant women with moderate to severe CKD were more likely to experience serious complications than kidney transplant recipients.

The impact of emergency department observation units on a health system.

IMPORTANCE: Protocol driven ED observation units (EDOU) have been shown to improve outcomes for patients and payers, however their impact on an entire health system is unknown. Two thirds of US hospitals do not have such units. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a protocol-driven EDOU on health system length of stay, cost, and resource utilization. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study of observation patients managed over 25 consecutive months in a four-hospital academic health system. Patients were identified using the "admit to observation" order and limited to adult, emergent / urgent, non-obstetric patients. Data was retrieved from a cost accounting database. The primary study exposure was the setting for observation care which was broken into three discrete groups: EDOUs (n = 3), hospital medicine observation units (HMSOU, n = 2), and a non-observation unit (NOU) bed located anywhere in the hospital. Outcomes included observation-to-inpatient admission rate, length of stay (LoS), total direct cost, and inpatient bed days saved. Unadjusted outcomes were compared, and outcomes were adjusted using multiple study variables. LoS and cost were compared using quantile regressions. Inpatient admit rate was compared using logistic regressions. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 48,145 patients who were 57.4% female, 48% Black, 46% White, median age of 58, with some variation in most common diagnoses and payer groups. The median unadjusted outcomes favored EDOU over NOU settings for admission rate (13.1% vs 37.1%), LoS [17.9 vs 35.6 h), and cost ($1279 vs $2022). The adjusted outcomes favored EDOU over NOU settings for admission rates [12.3% (95% CI 9.7-15.3) vs 26.4% (CI 21.3-32.3)], LoS differences [11.1 h (CI 10.6-11.5 h)] and cost differences [$127.5 (CI $105.4 - $149.5)]. Adjusted differences were similar and favored EDOU over HMSOU settings. For the health system, the total adjusted annualized savings of the EDOUs was 10,399 bed days and $1,329,443 in total direct cost per year. CONCLUSION: Within an academic medical center, EDOUs were associated with improved resource utilization and reduced cost. This represents a significant opportunity for hospitals to improve efficiency and contain costs.

Costs and health resource use in patients with X-linked myotubular myopathy: insights from US commercial claims.

BACKGROUND: In X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), mutations in the MTM1 gene result in absence or dysfunction of myotubularin, a protein required for normal development, maintenance, and function of skeletal muscle. Extreme muscle weakness results in severe respiratory failure that is fatal for approximately half of XLMTM-affected children by age 18 months. Most surviving patients require invasive mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, and wheelchairs for mobility, due to profoundly impaired motor function. Little is known about the costs of care for this rare disease. Currently, there are no approved therapies for XLMTM. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the direct medical costs and health care resource utilization (HRU) incurred by XLMTM patients and paid by commercial insurers. METHODS: A retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted using the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus commercial database of adjudicated claims for more than 140 million individuals with commercial insurance coverage in the United States. An algorithm based on demographic information, diagnosis and procedure codes, and medications was used to identify XLMTM patients younger than aged 2 years during the study period from January 1, 2006, through September 30, 2018. All-cause direct medical costs and HRU during each month were calculated. Costs were grouped as inpatient hospital admissions (including the intensive care unit or neonatal intensive care unit [NICU]); emergency department visits; outpatient services (outpatient hospital visits, office visits, physician/provider office visits, ambulatory surgeries and procedures, laboratory tests, and imaging tests); and prescription medications. Monthly costs and HRU over time were stratified by age and use of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: 49 patients met the study criteria. All had at least 1 inpatient hospital admission, and 36 (73%) had at least 1 NICU stay. All patients received ventilation at some time during the study period, including 40 (82%) treated with invasive ventilation. Mean monthly per patient direct medical costs were highest in the first year of life ($74,831), including costs for inpatient admissions ($69,025), outpatient services ($5,266), and prescription medication ($540). Mean monthly costs were lower in the second, third, and fourth years of life ($23,207, $13,044, and $9,440, respectively). When annualized, these all-cause monthly medical costs totaled $897,978 per patient in the first year of life and nearly $1.5 million total for patients who survived the first 4 years of life. Costs were consistently highest when patients were receiving invasive ventilation and lowest when they were not receiving ventilation (i.e., before they started on ventilator support). CONCLUSIONS: This direct health care cost and HRU analysis demonstrates the substantial economic burden associated with XLMTM. Costs are highest in the first year of life and are particularly significant for patients receiving invasive ventilation. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by Audentes Therapeutics, an Astellas Company, and was conducted by PRECISIONheor with funding from Audentes Therapeutics, an Astellas Company. Slocomb is an employee of Audentes Therapeutics, an Astellas Company; James was an employee at the time of the study. Sacks, Healey, and Cyr are employees of PRECISIONheor. Graham participated in the medical/scientific advisory board for Audentes as part of a clinical trial design for XLMTM but declares no vested interest or holdings that would represent a conflict of interest. Beggs received consulting fees from Audentes Therapeutics, for work on this study, and has received grants from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Audentes Therapeutics, Dynacure SAS, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, along with personal fees from Asklepios Biopharmaceutical, Inc., Ballard Biologics, Biogen, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, GLG, Guidepoint Global, and Kate Therapeutics, unrelated to this study. In addition, Beggs has a patent (Patent number: 10736945) for systemic gene replacement therapy for treatment of X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) licensed to Audentes Therapeutics.