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Economic burden of cutaneous infections in children and adults with atopic dermatitis
Author(s) -
Sandhu Jeena K.,
Salame Nicole,
EhsaniChimeh Nazanin,
Armstrong April W.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/pde.13828
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , ambulatory , medical expenditure panel survey , medical prescription , ambulatory care , disease , health care , emergency department , skin infection , pediatrics , emergency medicine , dermatology , staphylococcus aureus , health insurance , psychiatry , biology , bacteria , economics , pharmacology , genetics , economic growth
Abstract Background/Objectives Atopic dermatitis ( AD ) is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting both children and adults. AD is associated with multiple comorbidities and complications. In particular, AD patients are susceptible to developing cutaneous infections. Studies show that comorbidities have contributed significantly to increased health care utilization and costs in AD . However, evidence regarding the degree to which this increased health care utilization and expenditure in AD is attributable to cutaneous infections is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of skin infections on health care utilization and expenditures among patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods This cross‐sectional study examined health care utilization and expenditures for AD patients of all ages with and without skin infections in the United States using the nationally representative 1996‐2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey ( MEPS ) data. Results In this study, a total of 4 825 668 (weighted) patients had a diagnosis of AD (mean age 5.7). Of these, 776 753 patients (16%) experienced skin infections (mean age 4.4). Compared to AD patients without skin infections, those with skin infections had more frequent visits to ambulatory clinics ( P = 0.001) and the emergency department ( P = 0.011), and increased hospitalization ( P = 0.010), after adjustments for demographic and clinical factors. AD patients with skin infections were also given 3.3 more prescriptions ( P < 0.0001). AD patients with skin infections incurred significantly greater health care costs, which included an additional $351/patient/year for ambulatory visits ( P < 0.0001) and an additional $177/patient/year for prescription medications ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions Atopic dermatitis patients with cutaneous infections incurred significantly greater health care utilization and expenditures than those without cutaneous infections.