title: Health care utilization & costs for cystic fibrosis patients with pulmonary infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine patterns of health care utilization and costs among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with pulmonary infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective administrative claims database analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used administrative claims data (including both medical and pharmacy claims) to examine health care utilization and costs among CF patients with pulmonary infections over one year. We conducted a subgroup analysis in which we examined selected outcome measures among patients with tobramycin for inhalation (TIS) prescriptions by the number of TIS prescriptions filled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1,064 CF patients identified with pulmonary infections, 80% had at least one CF-related office visit, 34% had a CF-related hospital stay, and 95% filled at least one prescription over one year. Total annual CF-related health care costs averaged $29,000 plus $20,000 for prescription drugs. In the subgroup analysis, there was a trend towards longer lengths of stay and higher inpatient costs with fewer numbers of TIS prescriptions filled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CF patients with pulmonary infections have substantial levels of health care utilization and costs.
authors.affiliation: i3 Innovus, Medford, MA 02155, USA. amy.osullivan@i3innovus.com
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: A Bruce
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics* / Q000382:microbiology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult