Health care utilization in patients with eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To examine health care costs among patients with eating disorders (EDs) using the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota claims database system.


METHODS
Four groups of individuals enrolled between 1999 and 2005 were identified: (1) a group diagnosed with EDs at the beginning of the study period, in 2000 or 2001; (2) a group diagnosed with EDs later in the study period, in 2004 or 2005; (3) a comparison group with depression; and (4) a non-eating disordered comparison group.


RESULTS
Health care costs were high for patients diagnosed with an ED during the period when the diagnosis was made but remained elevated in the years following. Such costs were consistently higher than those for the non-eating disordered comparison group, but similar to the depression comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care costs remained elevated after a diagnosis of an ED for an extended period of time.
Mitchell
James E
JE
Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, 120 South 8th Street, Fargo, North Dakota 58107, USA. mitchell@medicine.nodak.edu
Myers
Tricia
T
Crosby
Ross
R
O'Neill
George
G
Carlisle
Jodi
J
Gerlach
Shamayne
S
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D054598:Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009658:North Dakota; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data