Urologic diseases in America project: trends in resource use for urinary tract infections in women.
OBJECTIVE
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common clinical diagnoses in women. In this study we examined epidemiological, economic and health care use trends for UTI in women in the United States.


METHODS
The analytical methods used to generate these results have been described previously.


RESULTS
The lifetime risk for UTI in women is high (greater than 50%). Between 1988 and 1994 the overall lifetime prevalence of UTI was estimated to be 53,067/100,000 women. Prescribing patterns demonstrated an increase in the trend toward using fluoroquinolones as first line therapy for UTI, which was associated with increased costs. Composite data revealed that overall expenditures for the treatment of UTIs in women in the United States, excluding spending on outpatient prescriptions, were approximately 2.47 billion dollars in 2000. Diagnosis and treatment of UTI in women is performed in various clinical settings. Inpatient hospitalization for UTI care has generally decreased in younger women but increased in elderly women. There has been a sharp increase in emergency room use by younger women, which may reflect disparities in access to health insurance or primary care providers. Most outpatient care of women with UTIs is performed in physician offices.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of health care use and economic data on UTIs in women revealed various interesting trends. These findings will help shape understanding of UTI treatment in relation to other urological disorders in women. The results raise various important future research questions.
Griebling
Tomas L
TL
Department of Urology and the Center on Aging, University of Kansas, Kansas City 66160, USA. tgriebling@kumc.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010824:Physicians' Offices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones