The one-year attributable cost of post-stroke dysphagia

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Evidence-based practice and healthcare reform necessitate understanding dysphagia management costs.
• Accurate cost-of-illness data are crucial for cost-effectiveness analyses of dysphagia treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the 1-year cost of dysphagia post-stroke in South Carolina.
• To investigate potential differences in costs based on ethnicity and residence.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 3,200 South Carolina Medicare beneficiaries from 2004 with ischemic stroke (ICD-9 codes 434, 436).
• Comparison of individuals with and without dysphagia regarding demographics, clinical factors, and Medicare costs.
• Utilized univariate analyses and a generalized linear multivariable model (gamma distribution, log link).

Main Results:

• The 1-year cost to Medicare was $4,510 higher for patients with dysphagia post-ischemic stroke, controlling for covariates.
• No statistically significant differences in rurality, ethnicity, or gender were found between groups.
• Post-stroke dysphagia was confirmed as a significant driver of increased medical expenses.

Conclusions:

• Post-stroke dysphagia substantially elevates medical expenditures for Medicare.
• Understanding these costs is vital for efficient resource allocation and justifying treatment value.
• This data supports the need for cost-effectiveness studies in dysphagia management.