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Urologic diseases in America project: urolithiasis
Margaret S Pearle1, Elizabeth A Calhoun, Gary C Curhan
1Department of Urology and Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9110, USA. margaret.pearle@utsouthwestern.edu
The Journal of Urology
|February 16, 2005
Summary
The annual cost of urolithiasis (kidney stones) in the US is nearly $2 billion. Despite treatment shifts, costs are rising, possibly due to increased stone disease prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Health Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Urolithiasis represents a significant health burden in the United States.
- Understanding healthcare resource utilization and economic impact is crucial for public health planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the burden of urolithiasis in the US.
- To identify trends in healthcare resource use for urolithiasis.
- To estimate the economic impact of urolithiasis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of national healthcare data from 1992-2000.
- Examination of inpatient and outpatient visit trends.
- Assessment of surgical procedure distribution.
- Estimation of total annual expenditures for urolithiasis.
Main Results:
- Inpatient hospitalizations decreased 15% (1994-2000), with shorter stays.
- Outpatient visits increased significantly: hospital outpatient visits by 40% and physician office visits by 43% (1994-2000).
- Total annual expenditure reached nearly $2.1 billion in 2000, a 50% increase since 1994.
Conclusions:
- Annual costs for urolithiasis approach $2 billion and are increasing.
- Despite shifts to outpatient and minimally invasive treatments, costs are rising.
- Increasing prevalence of stone disease may be a contributing factor to rising costs.