[Fracture-related medical cost of aged people in Niigata Prefecture, Japan: analysis of data from health insurance claims].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine the fracture-related medical cost of aged people to reduce such cost.


METHODS
Using health insurance claims, we obtained data on the number of aged people (> or =60 years of age) with fractures among members of the National Health Insurance Organization in Niigata Prefecture and their fracture-related medical cost, every May from 2003 to 2005. We analyzed these data and stratified them by sex, age (5-year age range), and hospitalization history.


RESULTS
The average number of fractures per 100,000 people and the fracture-related medical cost per capita for women were 1,316+/-11 and 1,344+/-66 yen, respectively. These values were found to be more than twofold, those for men (604+/-11 and 556+/-33 yen, respectively). The number of fractures per 100,000 people and the fracture-related medical cost per capita increased with age. The fracture-related medical cost per hospitalization admission, however, did not increase with age. The amount of two-year increase in the fracture-related medical cost of hospitalization per capita was the largest in the > or =85 age group, and increased with the number of fractures. The fracture-related medical cost of people > or =60 years of age in Niigata prefecture was estimated to increase with age for women, but not for men.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that lowering the prevalence of fractures among very old women would lead to a decrease in the total fracture-related medical costs. Additional studies are needed to confirm the findings using nation wide data.
Oyama
Mari
M
Division of Social and Environmental Medicine, Department of Community Preventive Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan. oyama336@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Nakamura
Kazutoshi
K
Tsuchiya
Yasuo
Y
Muto
Kensuke
K
Yamamoto
Masaharu
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors