Ryan C Perkins1,2, Mahek Shah3, Gregory S Sawicki1. 1. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 2. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 3. Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prior studies have estimated healthcare costs for cystic fibrosis (CF) of $8000-$131,000, but do not account for impacts of CF modulator therapy. This study aims to assess utilization patterns and cost of CF care in a center in the United States. METHODS: Care utilization patterns and costs at a large pediatric-adult CF center were examined from November 2017 to November 2018. Subjects were stratified by age and cost (excluding pharmacy costs) were calculated based on hospital-derived utilization charges. RESULTS: A total of 166 patients were reviewed with mean clinical charges of $28,755. Lower lung function ($23,032 normal lung function, $62,293 moderate reduction, $186,786 severe reduction; p = .05), hospitalizations ($85,452 yes, $6362 no; p = .0001), Pseudomonas positive culture ($48,660 positive, $22,013 negative, p = .0001), and CF-related diabetes ($161,892 CFRD, $22,153 no CFRD; p = .001) were associated with increased charges. Patients utilizing Ivacaftor had lower charges compared to lumacaftor-ivacaftor ($6633 vs. $33,039; p = .05) and tezacaftor-ivacaftor ($6633 vs. $64,434; p = .002). CONCLUSION: Our study characterized utilization and care charges among a CF cohort. Lower lung function, hospitalizations, and CFRD were associated with increased charges.
BACKGROUND: Prior studies have estimated healthcare costs for cystic fibrosis (CF) of $8000-$131,000, but do not account for impacts of CF modulator therapy. This study aims to assess utilization patterns and cost of CF care in a center in the United States. METHODS: Care utilization patterns and costs at a large pediatric-adult CF center were examined from November 2017 to November 2018. Subjects were stratified by age and cost (excluding pharmacy costs) were calculated based on hospital-derived utilization charges. RESULTS: A total of 166 patients were reviewed with mean clinical charges of $28,755. Lower lung function ($23,032 normal lung function, $62,293 moderate reduction, $186,786 severe reduction; p = .05), hospitalizations ($85,452 yes, $6362 no; p = .0001), Pseudomonas positive culture ($48,660 positive, $22,013 negative, p = .0001), and CF-related diabetes ($161,892 CFRD, $22,153 no CFRD; p = .001) were associated with increased charges. Patients utilizing Ivacaftor had lower charges compared to lumacaftor-ivacaftor ($6633 vs. $33,039; p = .05) and tezacaftor-ivacaftor ($6633 vs. $64,434; p = .002). CONCLUSION: Our study characterized utilization and care charges among a CF cohort. Lower lung function, hospitalizations, and CFRD were associated with increased charges.