Koshi Nakamura1, Nagako Okuda2, Tomonori Okamura3, Katsuyuki Miura4, Kunihiro Nishimura5, Seiji Yasumura6, Kiyomi Sakata7, Hideki Hidaka8, Akira Okayama9. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan knaka@kanazawa-med.ac.jp. 2. Department of Health and Nutrition, University of Human Arts and Sciences, Saitama, Japan. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Department of Public Health, and Center for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan. 5. Department of Evidence Based Medicine and Risk Analysis, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan. 6. Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan. 7. Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan. 8. Medical and Health Care Center, Sanyo Electric Group Health Insurance Association, Moriguchi, Japan. 9. Research Institute of Strategy for Prevention, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
AIMS: This study investigated the relationship between alcohol drinking habits and the onset of high medical expenditure in a Japanese male population. METHODS: The cohort comprised 94,307 male beneficiaries 40-69 years of age of the Japanese medical insurance system, who had daily alcohol drinking habits. The likelihood of incurring high medical expenditure, defined as the ≥90th percentile of the medical expenditure distribution in the study population 1 year after baseline, as well as the likelihood of undergoing hospitalization that year were compared among the participants grouped according to their alcohol consumption amount (<2, 2-3.9, 4-5.9, ≥6 drinks/day). RESULTS: Participants who ranked in the top 10% medical expenditure group within the 1 year after baseline each incurred at least 2152 euros/year. The top 10% medical expenditure group accounted for 61.1% of the total medical expenditure in the study population. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for ranking in the top 10% group during the 1-year period, compared with the <2 drinks (23 g of alcohol)/day group, were 1.08 (1.02-1.15) for 2-3.9 drinks/day, 1.11 (1.05-1.19) for 4-5.9 drinks/day, and 1.31 (1.18-1.45) for ≥6 drinks/day after adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking and exercise habits. The adjusted odds ratios for undergoing hospitalization were 1.11 (1.04-1.19), 1.14 (1.06-1.24) and 1.39 (1.24-1.56), respectively. CONCLUSION: The likelihood of incurring high medical expenditure and undergoing hospitalization increased with daily alcohol consumption amount.
AIMS: This study investigated the relationship between alcohol drinking habits and the onset of high medical expenditure in a Japanese male population. METHODS: The cohort comprised 94,307 male beneficiaries 40-69 years of age of the Japanese medical insurance system, who had daily alcohol drinking habits. The likelihood of incurring high medical expenditure, defined as the ≥90th percentile of the medical expenditure distribution in the study population 1 year after baseline, as well as the likelihood of undergoing hospitalization that year were compared among the participants grouped according to their alcohol consumption amount (<2, 2-3.9, 4-5.9, ≥6 drinks/day). RESULTS:Participants who ranked in the top 10% medical expenditure group within the 1 year after baseline each incurred at least 2152 euros/year. The top 10% medical expenditure group accounted for 61.1% of the total medical expenditure in the study population. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for ranking in the top 10% group during the 1-year period, compared with the <2 drinks (23 g of alcohol)/day group, were 1.08 (1.02-1.15) for 2-3.9 drinks/day, 1.11 (1.05-1.19) for 4-5.9 drinks/day, and 1.31 (1.18-1.45) for ≥6 drinks/day after adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking and exercise habits. The adjusted odds ratios for undergoing hospitalization were 1.11 (1.04-1.19), 1.14 (1.06-1.24) and 1.39 (1.24-1.56), respectively. CONCLUSION: The likelihood of incurring high medical expenditure and undergoing hospitalization increased with daily alcohol consumption amount.