Pcv113 - Assessing the Health Care Resource Utilization and Economic Burden Among Us Cardiovascular Disease Patients in the Veterans Health Administration Population

Abstract

Objectives: To assess health care resource utilization and costs among U.S.patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) using the Veterans HealthAdministration (VHA) dataset. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CVD or whounderwent CVD-related procedures were identified (International Classificationof Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] diagnosis codes 410, 412,411.1, 411.81, 411.89, 434, 436, 437.0, 437.1, 438, 997.02, 435 and 428, ICD-9 procedurecodes 00.66, 36.09 and current procedural terminology [CPT]-4 codes 33503-33545)using the VHA dataset from 01OCT2008 through 30SEPT2012. The initial diagnosisdate was designated as the index date. Patients without a CVD diagnosis, who wereof the same age, race and gender as study CVD patients, were identified for comparison. An index date was selected at random to minimize bias. Patients in bothgroups were required to be age ?18 years with continuous medical and pharmacybenefits 1 year pre- and post-index date. One-to-one propensity score matching(PSM) was used to compare health care resource utilization and costs between theCVD and comparison groups during the follow-up period, adjusting for baselinedemographic and clinical characteristics. Results: After risk-adjusted analysisusing PSM, 536,125 patients in each group were matched. More CVD patients hadinpatient admissions (14.40% vs. 1.43%, p<0.0001) and emergency room (14.89%vs. 3.66%, p<0.0001), outpatient office (60.90% vs. 47.19%, p<0.0001), outpatient(61.35% vs. 47.99%, p<0.0001) and pharmacy visits (64.41% vs. 54.89%, p<0.0001)compared to those without CVD. CVD patients also incurred higher costs. Costswere significantly higher for CVD patients than for those without CVD ($8,248vs. $1,638, p<0.0001). Conclusions: CVD patients in the VHA population morefrequently utilized health care resources and incurred higher costs than thosewithout CVD.