Economic Burden of Illness and Outcomes Associated with Inpatient-Related Cases of Asthma

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the economic burden of illness and outcomes associated with in-patient related cases of asthma. Methods: This retrospective database study used Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National Inpatient Survey to investigate the total number of discharges, length of stay and health care costs of patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma based on gender, payer and level of income. Data was analyzed using a non-parametric z-test to determine if results were significant. Results: A total of 418,789 patients (164,045 male, 251,264 female, 3,479 missing) were admitted with the category diagnosis of asthma in 2004. Females had a longer mean length of stay, higher mean charges and higher aggregate charges than males. These apparent differences were found to be significant. Medicaid had a larger number of total discharged and higher aggregate charges. Both these outcomes were found to be significant when compared to all other payers, expect there was no significance between Medicaid and Medicare in regards to aggregate charges. Medicare had a longer mean length of stay and higher mean charges which were found to be significant when compared to all other payers. Not low median income had more discharges, longer mean length of stay and higher mean and aggregate charges compared to low median income. These apparent differences were found to be significant. Conclusions: Being of female gender, or part of a government funded program (Medicaid or Medicare) or having an income of $36,000+ would result in higher discharge rates, longer mean length of stay and higher mean and aggregate charges in respect to asthma hospitalizations.