L-T Kao1,2, K-H Wang3, H-C Lin2,4, H-C Li4, S Yang5, S-D Chung2,6,7. 1. Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Sleep Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Dermatology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Irvine School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, U.S.A. 6. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, No.21, Sec. 2, Nanya S. Rd. , Banciao Dist, New Taipei City, 220, Taiwan. 7. School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although psoriasis is seldom life threatening, very few studies have compared differences in health care service use between patients with and without psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate differences in health care service use between patients with and without psoriasis. METHODS: Patient details and data on their use of health services were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. We included 3649 patients with psoriasis and 3649 without it. Each patient was followed for a 1-year period to estimate their utilization of health care resources. Student t-tests were used to compare differences in health care services use between patients with and without psoriasis. RESULTS: For dermatology services, patients with psoriasis had significantly more outpatient visits (3·5 vs. 0·9), and higher outpatient and total costs (US$148·00 vs. US$12·20 and US$581·60 vs. US$347·20, respectively) than those without psoriasis. For nondermatology services, patients with psoriasis had more outpatient visits (21·3 vs. 17·6), and higher outpatient and total costs (US$904·60 vs. US$663·50 and US$1335·50 vs. US$998·30, respectively) than those without psoriasis. For overall health care service use, patients with psoriasis had significantly more outpatient visits (24·8 vs. 18·5; P < 0·01) and greater total costs (US$1917·10 vs. US$1345·60; P < 0·01) than those without psoriasis. This indicates that the total cost was about 1·4-fold greater for patients with psoriasis than those without it. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psoriasis used health care services significantly more often than those without psoriasis.
BACKGROUND: Although psoriasis is seldom life threatening, very few studies have compared differences in health care service use between patients with and without psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate differences in health care service use between patients with and without psoriasis. METHODS:Patient details and data on their use of health services were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. We included 3649 patients with psoriasis and 3649 without it. Each patient was followed for a 1-year period to estimate their utilization of health care resources. Student t-tests were used to compare differences in health care services use between patients with and without psoriasis. RESULTS: For dermatology services, patients with psoriasis had significantly more outpatient visits (3·5 vs. 0·9), and higher outpatient and total costs (US$148·00 vs. US$12·20 and US$581·60 vs. US$347·20, respectively) than those without psoriasis. For nondermatology services, patients with psoriasis had more outpatient visits (21·3 vs. 17·6), and higher outpatient and total costs (US$904·60 vs. US$663·50 and US$1335·50 vs. US$998·30, respectively) than those without psoriasis. For overall health care service use, patients with psoriasis had significantly more outpatient visits (24·8 vs. 18·5; P < 0·01) and greater total costs (US$1917·10 vs. US$1345·60; P < 0·01) than those without psoriasis. This indicates that the total cost was about 1·4-fold greater for patients with psoriasis than those without it. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with psoriasis used health care services significantly more often than those without psoriasis.