Birnbaum Howard, Morley Melissa, Leong Stephanie, Greenberg Paul, Colice Gene
Analysis Group, Boston, Massachusetts 02199, USA.
Pharmacoeconomics. 2003;21(10):749-59. doi: 10.2165/00019053-200321100-00006.
While there is some literature on the cost of specific respiratory infections, much of the existing research focuses only on direct medical treatment costs and does not take into consideration workplace burden due to disability and absenteeism.
To evaluate the impact of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) on the workplace, specifically regarding the economic burden from an employer's perspective.
Specific LRTI considered here were acute bronchitis, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. Data from medical, prescription drug and disability claims of a large, national company in the US were used. These data provide information on both the healthcare and work loss impacts of LRTI on this major self-insured employer. The annual per capita expenditures for persons with LRTI were determined for beneficiaries (including employees and dependants) of this employer by analysing all claims in 1997. Results were compared with those of a 10% random sample of beneficiaries in the employer's overall beneficiary population.
In 1997, total per person expenditures and total medical service utilisation were higher among beneficiaries with LRTI than among beneficiaries in the overall beneficiary population sample. Annual per capita employer expenditures for beneficiaries with LRTI totalled 6,116 US dollars, compared with 2,368 US dollars (1997 values) for the average beneficiary in the overall beneficiary population sample. Employer payments for lost work time through disability and absenteeism accounted for 17% of these expenditures amongst beneficiaries with LRTI and for 35% amongst employees with LRTI.
Annual per capita expenditures for beneficiaries with LRTI were almost three times that of the average beneficiary. We conclude that it is important to consider work loss in analyses of the cost of LRTI.
虽然有一些关于特定呼吸道感染成本的文献，但现有研究大多仅关注直接医疗费用，未考虑因残疾和旷工导致的工作场所负担。
从雇主角度评估下呼吸道感染（LRTIs）对工作场所的影响，特别是经济负担。
这里考虑的特定LRTI包括急性支气管炎、慢性支气管炎急性加重和肺炎。使用了美国一家大型全国性公司的医疗、处方药和残疾索赔数据。这些数据提供了LRTI对这家主要自保雇主的医疗保健和工作损失影响的信息。通过分析1997年的所有索赔，确定了该雇主受益人群（包括员工和家属）中LRTI患者的人均年度支出。结果与雇主总体受益人群中10%的随机抽样受益人的结果进行了比较。
1997年，LRTI受益人的人均总支出和医疗服务总利用率高于总体受益人群样本中的受益人。LRTI受益人的雇主年度人均支出总计6116美元，而总体受益人群样本中平均受益人的支出为2368美元（1997年价值）。雇主因残疾和旷工支付的误工时间费用在LRTI受益人中占这些支出的17%，在LRTI员工中占35%。
LRTI受益人的人均年度支出几乎是平均受益人的三倍。我们得出结论，在分析LRTI成本时考虑工作损失很重要。
