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Abstract #154721

Derek Weycker, PhD¹, M. Haim Erder, PhD², John Edelsberg, MD, MPH¹, Harold Holder, PhD³, Oleg Sofrygin, MA¹, and Gerry Oster, PhD¹. (1) Policy Analysis Inc., Four Davis Court, Brookline, MA 02445-7629, (2) Forest Research Institute, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza V, Jersey City, NJ 07039, 201-427-8431, haim.erder@frx.com, (3) Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 450, Berkeley, CA 94704

Background: One in every 13 US adults suffers from alcohol dependence. Information on the economic burden these patients place on health insurers is currently lacking.

Methods: Using a large US health insurance database, we identified all patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome in calendar year (CY) 2004, as well as an age- and sex-matched group of persons without such a diagnosis during this year (“comparison patients”). Healthcare expenditures for the treatment of alcohol-related conditions—including alcoholism and alcoholic disorders, alcohol-related diseases, and alcohol-related injuries—were tallied in CY2004 for alcoholics and comparison patients using plan payments to providers. Expenditures were summarized using means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated via nonparametric bootstrapping.

Results: In a population of 4 million covered lives, 11,151 persons had one or more encounters with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome. Mean (±SD) age of alcoholics was 40 (±14) years, and 67% were male. Expenditures for alcohol-related conditions averaged $5,945 (95%CI $5,598-$6,297) for alcoholics, versus $345 ($273-$438) for comparison patients, a difference of $5,600 ($5,255-$5,963). Differences in mean expenditures increased with age (ages 65 years and older, $13,243), and were similar for men ($5,771) and women ($5,255).

Conclusions: Healthcare expenditures are substantially higher among patients with encounters for alcohol dependence in comparison with persons without evidence of this problem.

Learning Objectives:

• To discuss the economic burden placed on healthcare insurers by patients with alcohol dependence.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Alcoholism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of relationship
Forest Laboratories, Inc	Health Economics	Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.