Longitudinal trends in resource use in an incident cohort of open-angle glaucoma patients: resource use in open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE

To characterize the costs of caring for patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the United States over time and to identify factors that influence these costs.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study.

METHODS

Claims data from 19 927 newly diagnosed OAG patients enrolled in a large United States managed care network were reviewed to identify glaucoma-related charges for all incident OAG patients from 2001 through 2009. Average glaucoma-related charges for enrollees with OAG were characterized in 6-month blocks from the date of initial OAG diagnosis through the ensuing 5 years. Factors associated with being an enrollee in the costliest 5% for glaucoma-related charges (accruing $5810 or more in charges in the first 2 years) were identified using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The costliest 5% of enrollees were responsible for $10 202 871 (24%) of all glaucoma-related charges. By comparison, those whose costs fell within the lower 50% of the cost distribution collectively amassed only $7 986 582 (19%) of all glaucoma-related charges. A spike in glaucoma-related charges occurred in the 6-month period around the time of OAG diagnosis, stabilized by 1 year after diagnosis, and remained relatively constant over time. Risk factors associated with being in the costliest 5% for glaucoma-related care included younger age, Northeastern United States state residence, undergoing cataract surgery, and possessing ocular comorbidities (P < .006 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

A small subset of enrollees account for a large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges. Understanding the characteristics of these individuals and finding ways to reduce disease burden and costs associated with their care can result in substantial cost savings.