Work-related and health care cost burden of community-acquired pneumonia in an employed population.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) incidence, turnover, episode length, inpatient length-of-stay, and cost burden.


METHODS
Using 2007 to 2010 employee demographic, payroll, and claims data, CAP episodes were identified in employees aged 18 to 64 years. Semiannual medical, drug, sick leave, short-term disability (STD), long-term disability, and workers' compensation costs and absence days were compared between employees with and without CAP (controls) using two-part regression modeling.


RESULTS
In a population of 250,000, the number of CAP episodes per 100,000 employees was 628. The incidence rate increased with age and comorbidity. CAP employees' turnover rate nearly doubled that of controls (P < 0.01). In every age and risk group, employees with CAP had significantly (P < 0.01) higher medical and drug costs than controls and double the STD costs and days (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CAP and underlying comorbidity are associated with increased medical, pharmacy, and STD costs and employee turnover rates.
From the HCMS Group (Dr Kleinman and Mr Beren), Cheyenne, Wyo; and Pfizer, Inc (Ms Yu and Dr Sato), Collegeville, Penn.
Nathan L
NL
Kleinman
Holly
H
Yu
Ian A
IA
Beren
Reiko
R
Sato
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult