title: Inpatient cost analysis for treatment of myasthenia gravis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We explore trends in U.S. inpatient costs of care over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compare myasthenia gravis (MG) with multiple sclerosis (MS) and overall U.S. hospital admissions using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for 2003-2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total costs of MG inpatient care rose 13-fold from 2003 to 2013. This was accounted for by a greater than sixfold increase in discharges and a greater than twofold increase in cost per discharge. The < 17 and >85 years age groups experienced the greatest increases in discharges. Medicare and Medicaid use increased. Regional variations in cost were apparent. There were greater rises in the Midwestern and Southern United States, which is dissimilar to MS and all hospital admissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a dramatic and disproportionate rise in the number of MG discharges, most likely because of changes in practice patterns. Muscle Nerve 56: 1114-1118, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
authors.forename: Jacklyn O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Omorodion
authors.affiliation: Center for Healthcare Innovation and Policy Research, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Jesse M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pines
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: healthcare costs; hospitalizations; multiple sclerosis; myasthenia gravis; practice patterns