title: Surgical and nonsurgical hospitalization rates and charges for patients with ulcerative colitis in Italy: a 10-year cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today we are observing an increasing incidence of ulcerative colitis associated with an improved survival of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse current rates, outcomes, and costs of inpatient care for ulcerative colitis patients of central Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cohort included 644 ulcerative colitis patients, living in the Lazio region, with diagnosis made or confirmed by the staff of a single tertiary referral centre in Rome (1997-2006). Follow-up data on hospitalization rates, costs, and colectomy rates were collected from the Regional Hospital Information System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall hospitalization rates were 3 times higher than those of the region's general population, reflecting excess admissions for digestive or infectious diseases (standardized hospitalizations rates for digestive-tract: 15.9; for infectious diseases: 3.5). The overall cumulative risk for colectomy was 7.5%. On the average, hospitalizations for ulcerative colitis lasted 10 days. The mean reimbursement for a ulcerative colitis-related hospitalization was EUR 5120 (€4609 for nonsurgical admissions, €8655 for surgical hospitalizations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ulcerative colitis patients are 3 times more likely to be hospitalized than the general population. Colectomy rates in Italian ulcerative colitis patients resemble those of northern Europe, but most hospital admissions are for diagnostic procedures or medical therapy. Hospitalizations are almost twice as long as those reported in the United States although their mean cost is considerably lower.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo Forlanini, Circonvallazione Gianicolense 87, 00152 Roma, Italy. akohn@scamilloforlanini.rm.it
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fano
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monterubbianesi
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davoli
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marrollo
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stasi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perucci
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prantera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003082:Colectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult