Presence of hepatitis C infection in Baby Boomers with Medicare is independently associated with mortality and resource utilization, finds May's issue of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Hepatitis C virus is common among Baby Boomers.
As this cohort ages, they will increasingly become Medicare eligible.
Dr Younossi and colleagues from Virginia, USA evaluated resource utilization and mortality of BB-Medicare recipients with HCV.
The team used in-patient and out-patient Medicare databases.
HCV was identified using ICD-9 codes.
Outcomes included resource utilization, and short-term mortality.
The investigators reported that of 1,153,862 Baby Boomers Medicare recipients, 3% had HCV.
| Overall mortality increased from 3.15% to 3.31% |
| Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics |
During this period, in-patient Medicare-Baby Boomers, and their claims increased.
The investigators found that the patients' overall mortality increased from 9% to 10%.
The investigative team found that HCV, older age, male gender, ESRD, Charlson score and length of stay predicted mortality.
The team found that length of stay decreased from 13 to 12 days, whereas total payments increased from $22,157 to $23,185.
During the study, the number of out-patient Medicare Baby Boomers patients, and claims also increased.
Furthermore, overall mortality increased from 3.15% to 3.31%.
The investigators observed that HCV, older age, ESRD, disabled status and Charlson score predicted mortality.
The team found that the annual total out-patient payments increased from $3781 to $4001.
HCV, 45–49 age, ESRD, disabled status, Charlson score, and study year independently predicted increases in payments.
Dr Younossi's team concludes, "In Baby Boomer Medicare recipients, diagnosis of HCV is independently associated with higher mortality and resource utilization."
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2016: 43(10): 1060–1068
29 April 2016 Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2016: 43(10): 1060–1068
http://www.gastrohep.com/news/news.asp?id=111801
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