Estimating direct and indirect costs of premenstrual syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the economic impact of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) on the employer.


METHODS
Data were collected from 374 women aged 18-45 with regular menses. Direct costs were quantified using administrative claims of these patients and the Medicare Fee Schedule. Indirect costs were quantified by both self-reported days of work missed and lost productivity at work. Regression analyses were used to develop a model to project PMS-related direct and indirect costs.


RESULTS
A total of 29.6% (n = 111) of the participants were diagnosed with PMS. A PMS diagnosis was associated with an average annual increase of $59 in direct costs (P < 0.026) and $4333 in indirect costs per patient (P < 0.0001) compared with patients without PMS.


CONCLUSIONS
A PMS diagnosis correlated with a modest increase in direct medical costs and a large increase in indirect costs.
Borenstein
Jeff
J
Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Chiou
Chiun-Fang
CF
Dean
Bonnie
B
Wong
John
J
Wade
Sally
S
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D002140:California; D002204:Capitation Fee / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005245:Fee Schedules / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000191:economics; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000191:economics*