title: Acute Pericarditis-Associated Hospitalization in the USA: A Nationwide Analysis, 2003-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiologic data on hospitalizations for acute pericarditis are scarce. We sought to study the trends in these hospitalizations and outcomes in the USA over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the 2003-2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify admissions with a primary diagnosis of acute pericarditis. Outcomes included hospitalization rate, case fatality rate (CFR), length of stay (LOS), hospital charges, complications and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed an estimated 135,710 hospitalizations for acute pericarditis among patients ≥16 years during the study period (mean age 53.5 ± 18.5 years; 40.5% women). The incidence of acute pericarditis hospitalizations was significantly higher for men than for women [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54-1.58; p < 0.001]; it decreased from 66 to 54 per million person-years (p < 0.001). CFR and LOS declined significantly during the study period (CFR: 2.2% in 2003 to 1.4% in 2012; LOS: 4.8 days in 2003 to 4.1 days in 2012; p < 0.001 for both). The average inflation-adjusted health-care charge increased from USD 31,242 to 38,947 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hospitalization rate, CFR and LOS associated with acute pericarditis have declined significantly in the US population. Average charges for acute pericarditis hospitalization have increased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Mass., USA.
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Ambarish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Priyank
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Neetika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000639:trends; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000639:trends; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000639:trends; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult