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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jennifer W. Kahende, PhD, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Mailstop K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-5279, jkahende@cdc.gov, Trevor A. Woollery, PhD, Office of the Chief Science Officer, Office of Public Health Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop D-72, Atlanta, GA 30333, and Chung-won Lee, PhD, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-46, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Objective: To determine the cost of treating four major smoking-related diseases: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: Analyses were based on the 1996-2001 MarketScan medical claims database. We identified claims associated with the four smoking-related diseases based on diagnosis, procedure, and drug codes, and calculated the cost of each. We used Charlson co-morbidity index to evaluate how expenditures varied by severity of illness, and also to better understand the impact of co-morbidities on utilization. Total costs were summed over the first and second year following the initial diagnosis with the disease.

Results: We found that total expenditures to treat ischemic heart disease were highest, followed by COPD. When median expenditures per claim and disease severity were considered, lung cancer was the most expensive condition to treat and ischemic heart disease the least expensive. Median treatment expenditures increased as co-morbidities increased.

Conclusion: Tobacco dependence is costly for employers and individuals. Treatment is expensive so disease prevention could provide immediate short-term financial returns for individuals and insurers. Additionally, employers that cover tobacco treatment programs through their insurance plans and employees who take advantage of these treatment options could realize substantial savings in the long term, along with health and quality-of-life benefits.

Learning Objectives: To develop medical expenditure estimates for treating four leading smoking-related diseases, to assess total expenditures by type of service and disease category, and to analyze median expenditures by disease category and co-morbidity index.

Learning Objectives:

• To develop medical expenditure estimates for treating four leading smoking-related diseases, to assess total expenditures by type of service and disease category, and to analyze median expenditures by disease category and co-morbidity index.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered