Resource utilization associated with irritable bowel syndrome in the United States 1987-1997.
This study uses national databases to examine the impact of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on resource utilization in the United States. Approximately 1.5-2.7 million physician visits (599-1,043 per 100,000) yearly were related to IBS, with 45.3% seen by gastroenterologists, and 89% prescribed medications. Rates of physician visits by women were approximately 2.4-3.3 times higher than that for men. The average number of medication prescribed per visit was 1.83. Approximately 89% of the visits were prescribed with medications. The rate of hospitalization (5.1 per 100,000 in 1997) decreased by 60% and length of stay decreased from 5.5 to 3.1 days in the past decade. The average charges of IBS-related hospitalization were US$7,882. Our study found an apparent decreasing trend of IBS-related hospitalizations and no marked increase in office consultations in the past decade. However, a better case identification criterion is necessary to estimate the true disease burden.
MEDTAP International Inc, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Ya-Chen Tina
YC
Shih
Victoria E
VE
Barghout
Robert S
RS
Sandler
Priti
P
Jhingran
Medha
M
Sasane
Suzanne
S
Cook
David C
DC
Gibbons
Michael
M
Halpern
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000628:therapy*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States