Healthcare Cost and Utilization in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Real‐World Data From a Large U.S. Claims Database

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.30094
• Publication Date: 2018-05-18T08:39:11Z
• Authors: Alina M. Allen; Holly K. Van Houten; Lindsey R. Sangar...; Jayant A. Talwalkar; Rozalina G. McCoy
• Keywords: Real world data

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing. health care burden resulting from the multidisciplinary management this complex unknown. We assessed total cost and resource utilization associated with a new NAFLD diagnosis, compared controls similar comorbidities. used OptumLabs Data Warehouse, large national administrative claims database longitudinal data over 100 million individuals enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans. identified 152,064 adults first claim for between 2010 2014, which 108,420 were matched 1:1 by age, sex, metabolic comorbidities, length follow-up, year race, geographic region, insurance type to non-NAFLD contemporary Warehouse database. Median follow-up time was 2.6 (range 1-6.5) years. final study cohort consisted 216,840 people median age 55 18-86) years, 53% female, 78% white. annual per patient $7,804 (interquartile range [IQR] $3,068-$18,688) diagnosis $3,789 (IQR $1,176-$10,539) long-term management. These costs are significantly higher than $2,298 $681-$6,580) control comorbidities but without NAFLD. largest increases that may account increased represented biopsies (relative risk [RR] = 55.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 24.48-123.59), imaging (RR 3.95, CI 3.77-4.15), hospitalizations 1.87, 1.73-2.02). Conclusion: independent its very high, especially at diagnosis. Research efforts shouldfocus on identification underlying determinants use, sources excess cost, development cost-effective diagnostic tests.