ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyse the occurrence and cost of dry eye disease in Spain in the recent years. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis based on anonymised data from an insurance claims database that includes data from 1997 to 2015 from public and private hospitals and healthcare centres; 36,081 patients were eligible for the study after duplicate elimination. Five ICD9 codes associated with dry eye were used for patient selection, including vitamin A deficiency with xerophthalmic scars of cornea, xerophthalmia due to vitamin A deficiency, keratoconjunctivitis sicca not specified as Sjögren's, dry eye syndrome and keratoconjunctivitis sicca Sjögren's disease. RESULTS: Over 88% of the patients were female, and the mean age was 66 years. Patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca Sjögren's disease represented more than 89% of all patients and had the highest percentage of women. Both the annual number of patients and the number of admissions have increased exponentially since 1997 raising from 1079 to 3097 and from 1344 to 5938, respectively. The in-hospital length of stay was 9.6 (standard deviation = 11.6) days where more than 65% of the admissions were due to emergencies. Total costs were found to increase from 4.9 to 30.3 million during the study period; in parallel, there was an increase in the mean annual cost per patient, which was on average 7379. CONCLUSION: Disease incidence is likely to increase due to the influence of modern-day workplace, and it is important to take into account the high economic burden and the large decrease in quality of life in regards to Spanish society and health policies.
Subject(s)
Dry Eye Syndromes/economics , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cost of Illness , Cross-Sectional Studies , Databases, Factual , Delivery of Health Care/economics , Dry Eye Syndromes/diagnosis , Female , Health Care Costs/trends , Hospitalization/economics , Humans , Insurance Claim Review/economics , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/diagnosis , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/economics , Male , Middle Aged , Quality of Life , Retrospective Studies , Sjogren's Syndrome/diagnosis , Sjogren's Syndrome/economics , Spain/epidemiology , Xerophthalmia/diagnosis , Xerophthalmia/economicsSubject(s)
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/diagnosis , Sjogren's Syndrome/diagnosis , Adult , Autoantibodies , Autoimmune Diseases , Eligibility Determination , Female , Humans , Insurance, Life , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/economics , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Sjogren's Syndrome/economics , Sjogren's Syndrome/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye syndrome, is a complex condition characterized by inflammation of the ocular surface and tear-producing glands. Emerging awareness of the etiology of dry eye has led to the development of highly effective therapy. When dry eye is controlled, there is significant potential for cost savings.
Subject(s)
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/drug therapy , Age Factors , Aged , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Cyclosporine/administration & dosage , Female , Formularies as Topic , Health Care Costs , Humans , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/complications , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/economics , Managed Care Programs/economics , Middle Aged , Palliative Care , Patient Satisfaction , Quality of LifeABSTRACT
Dry eye syndrome is far more prevalent than previously considered. There are significant comorbidities, associated diseases, and behavioral and environmental factors that may contribute to the severity of dry eye. Dry eye syndrome has significant economic implications, including costs associated with increased health care utilization, missed school and work, and leisure and quality-of-life issues. Dry eye presents important economic challenges to patients, physicians, and health care delivery organizations.
