Direct medical costs attributable to acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in cohorts with atherosclerotic conditions.
BACKGROUND
The cost of acute ischemic events in persons with established atherosclerotic conditions is unknown.


METHODS
The direct medical costs attributable to secondary acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or ischemic stroke among persons with established atherosclerotic conditions were estimated from 1995-1998 data on 1,143 patients enrolled in US managed care plans.


RESULTS
The average 180-day costs attributable to secondary AMI or stroke were estimated as USD 19,056 in the AMI cohort having a private insurance (commercial; n = 344), USD 16,845 in the AMI cohort having government insurance (Medicare, age >/=65 years; n = 200), USD 10,267 for stroke commercial (n = 108), USD 16,280 for stroke Medicare (n = 113), USD 15,224 for peripheral arterial disease commercial (n = 170), and USD 15,182 for peripheral arterial disease Medicare (n = 208).


CONCLUSIONS
These estimates can be used to study the cost-effectiveness of interventions proven to reduce these secondary events.
Sloss
Elizabeth M
EM
Rand Corp., Santa Monica, Calif., USA. sloss@rand.org
Wickstrom
Steven L
SL
McCaffrey
Daniel F
DF
Garber
Steven
S
Rector
Thomas S
TS
Levin
Regina A
RA
Guzy
Peter M
PM
Gorelick
Philip B
PB
Dake
Michael D
MD
Vickrey
Barbara G
BG
D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*