OBJECTIVES: To examine multiple chronic conditions and related health care expenditures in children. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of all dependents of Mayo Clinic employees aged 0-17 on Jan 1, 2004 with continuous health benefits coverage for 4 years (N=14,727). Chronic conditions, health care utilization, and associated expenditures were obtained from medical and pharmacy claims. RESULTS: The most prevalent chronic conditions were asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (12%), allergic rhinitis (11%), and behavior problems (9%). The most costly conditions were congenital anomalies, asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and behavior problems ($9602, $4335, and $5378 annual cost per child, respectively). Annual health care expenditures increased substantially with the number of chronic conditions, and a small proportion of children with multiple chronic conditions accounted for a large proportion of health care costs. In addition, those with multiple chronic conditions were more likely to persist in the top 10th percentile spender group in year-to-year spending. CONCLUSION: Children with multiple chronic conditions accounted for a large proportion of health care expenditures. These children were also likely to persist as high spenders in the 4-year time frame. Further research into effective ways to manage the health care delivery for children with multiple chronic conditions is needed.
OBJECTIVES: To examine multiple chronic conditions and related health care expenditures in children. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of all dependents of Mayo Clinic employees aged 0-17 on Jan 1, 2004 with continuous health benefits coverage for 4 years (N=14,727). Chronic conditions, health care utilization, and associated expenditures were obtained from medical and pharmacy claims. RESULTS: The most prevalent chronic conditions were asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (12%), allergic rhinitis (11%), and behavior problems (9%). The most costly conditions were congenital anomalies, asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and behavior problems ($9602, $4335, and $5378 annual cost per child, respectively). Annual health care expenditures increased substantially with the number of chronic conditions, and a small proportion of children with multiple chronic conditions accounted for a large proportion of health care costs. In addition, those with multiple chronic conditions were more likely to persist in the top 10th percentile spender group in year-to-year spending. CONCLUSION:Children with multiple chronic conditions accounted for a large proportion of health care expenditures. These children were also likely to persist as high spenders in the 4-year time frame. Further research into effective ways to manage the health care delivery for children with multiple chronic conditions is needed.
Authors: Young J Juhn; Euijung Ryu; Chung-Il Wi; Katherine S King; Momin Malik; Santiago Romero-Brufau; Chunhua Weng; Sunghwan Sohn; Richard R Sharp; John D Halamka Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2022-06-14 Impact factor: 7.942
Authors: Joanna Thomson; Matt Hall; Katherine Nelson; Juan Carlos Flores; Brigid Garrity; Danielle D DeCourcey; Rishi Agrawal; Denise M Goodman; James A Feinstein; Ryan J Coller; Eyal Cohen; Dennis Z Kuo; James W Antoon; Amy J Houtrow; Lucia Bastianelli; Jay G Berry Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2021-01-07 Impact factor: 7.124