title: Health care expenditures in ulcerative colitis: the perspective of a self-insured employer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the incidence, prevalence, treatment patterns, disease severity, and direct costs associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) for claimants in health plans offered by a large self-insured employer in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of medical claims with and without UC identified from a population of approximately 500,000 employees, retirees, and dependents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Costs for UC claimants were more than twice those for the comparator group ($14,486 vs $6158; P < 0.005). Total health care costs for the severe disease cohort were double those of the mild or moderate cohorts ($26,875 vs $12,154 and $12,731), as were inpatient costs ($13,516 vs $3235 and $2244). The annual incremental cost of treating severe disease was $6812 (P < 0.005) compared with mild UC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UC is a significant predictor of increased medical costs with severe disease, driven mainly by inpatient costs.
authors.affiliation: Centocor, Inc., Horsham, PA, USA. ehillson@cntus.jnj.com
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hillson
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dybicz
authors.forename: Heidi C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaneman
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dabbous
authors.forename: W Gary
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Erwin
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kersh
authors.forename: Delma
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Broussard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult