title: Trends in outpatient resource utilizations and outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease. The objective of this study was to describe the recent trend of health care resource utilization and short-term mortality of Medicare beneficiaries with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study utilized data from a random sample of national outpatient claims of Medicare beneficiaries (2005 to 2010) who sought outpatient care for NAFLD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 29,528 patients who sought outpatient care for NAFLD from 2005 to 2010. The annual number of patients increased consistently from 3585 in 2005 to 6646 in 2010. The prevalence of studied comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension also increased significantly. At the same time, the mean yearly charge and the mean yearly payment increased significantly from $2624±$3308 and $561±$835 in 2005 to $3608±$5132 and $629±$1157 (P<0.05), respectively. The observed mortality rate remained stable around 2.84% (P=0.64). After adjusting for the other covariates, the total number of outpatient visits and all the comorbidities considered were the most determinant factors for yearly charge and yearly payment (P<0.0001). Overall mortality was associated with age, gender, number of outpatient visits, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of outpatient visits because of NAFLD rose between 2005 and 2010. Short-term mortality rates remained stable throughout the study period, whereas total annual charges and payments increased.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Hospital †Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA.
authors.forename: Zobair M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Younossi
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stepanova
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Chapy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
authors.forename: Alita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D009819:Office Visits / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States