Epidemiology
Abstract# 2002: Medical Expenditures and Earnings Losses among Persons with Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions (AROC), United States, 2003
Authors: L. Murphy et al.
Background: Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are major sources of disability in the United States. Yet, the magnitude of the effect of such conditions with regard to medical expenditures and lost wages is unknown. In this study, Murphy and colleagues sought to estimate the direct (medical) and indirect (earnings) costs attributable to AROC.
Methods: Data from 22,076 respondents of the 2003 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS). The MEPS is a nationally representative survey of the US civilian, non-institutionalized populations aged ≥ 18 years. The average direct medical costs for AROC were estimated from the total medical expenditures. Average indirect costs were estimated for persons aged 18 to 64 years. Both direct and indirect cost estimates were derived adjusting for potential confounders including age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, insurance status and 9 non-AROC medical conditions. The estimates from 1997 and 2003 were then compared. Sample weights were used in the analysis to account for the complex sampling design used in the MEPS.
Results: MEPS 2003 data estimates that 45.7 million person’s aged ≥18 reported an AROC. Average medical expenditures due to AROC were $1,752 per person producing a national total of about 80 billion dollars. The average per person expenditures were: $914 for outpatient care, $352 for inpatient care, $338 for prescriptions, and $146 for other expenses. Earning losses attributable to AROC were estimated to be 47 billion dollars (average per person loss = $1,559). Persons with AROC had a lower employment rate than those without AROC. The total national costs were about 20% higher in 2003 compared to 1997 (i.e., 80 billion vs. 65 billion). Although medical expenditures were, on average $10 less in 2003 – there were approximately 10 million people reporting AROC in 2003 compared with 1997.
Conclusions: Direct and indirect AROC attributable medical expenditures totaled 127 billion dollars, roughly 1% of the 2003 Gross National Product (GDP).
Editorial Comment: Analysis of 2003 MEPS data indicates that AROC imposes a substantial economic burden. Outpatient costs accounted for the largest portion of direct medical costs. Moreover, despite the introduction of new medications for many AROC’s prescription costs declined slightly compared to 1997 data. Despite this, the increased number of persons with AROC, due partly to increasing average age of the population, suggests that overall medical expenditures will rise markedly in the coming years. This underscores the need to continue to develop more effective treatments to minimize both the personal and financial burden associated with rheumatic conditions.