title: Real-World Assessment of Interventional Treatment Timing and Outcomes for Varicose Veins: A Retrospective Claims Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of delaying interventional treatment on varicose vein disease progression, complications, and health care costs in a real-world setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis of adults diagnosed with varicose veins between January 2008 and June 2010. Patients were followed for 2 years after diagnosis and categorized into three cohorts based on the timing of interventional therapy: early (≤ 2 mo), intermediate (> 2 mo but ≤ 6 mo), and late (> 6 mo). Disease progression and all-cause health care costs were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 44,206 patients were included, with 43% classified as receiving early interventional therapy, 33% as intermediate, and 24% as late. Early interventional treatment was associated with lower disease progression rates (29.2%) compared with intermediate (42.5%; P < .0001) and late treatment (52.2%; P < .0001). Also, early interventional treatment was associated with lower costs ($17,564) than intermediate ($17,923; P > .05) and late treatment ($18,399; P < .05). Each 30-day delay in treatment initiation was associated with a 7% higher risk of disease progression (P < .0001) and a 1% increase in costs (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that early initiation of interventional varicose vein treatment was significantly associated with a decreased risk of disease progression and costs.
authors.affiliation: Xcenda, 4114 Woodlands Parkway, Suite 500, Palm Harbor, FL 34685. Electronic address: aditya.raju@xcenda.com.
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.affiliation: BTG International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.affiliation: Xcenda, 4114 Woodlands Parkway, Suite 500, Palm Harbor, FL 34685.
authors.forename: Chelsey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Xcenda, 4114 Woodlands Parkway, Suite 500, Palm Harbor, FL 34685.
authors.forename: Rashad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carlton
authors.affiliation: CardioVascular Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Xcenda, 4114 Woodlands Parkway, Suite 500, Palm Harbor, FL 34685.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eaddy
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*