Factors and cost associated with atopic dermatitis in Nevada

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Health Economics
• Public Health

Background:

• Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly known as eczema, is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition affecting all age groups.
• The economic impact and treatment costs of AD in Nevada remain largely undocumented.
• Existing research lacks comprehensive data on factors influencing AD treatment expenses within specific regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with the cost of treating AD in Nevada.
• To analyze the financial burden of AD across different hospital settings within the state.
• To provide data for better resource allocation and patient support strategies for AD management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a large hospital utilization database for analysis.
• Employed Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni adjustment to assess cost variations.
• Examined AD treatment costs across various hospital settings (inpatient and outpatient) in Nevada.

Main Results:

• Significant cost-influencing factors identified include hospital setting, physician type, geographic region, AD diagnosis severity, and patient age (p < 0.05).
• Inpatient costs were significantly associated with region, diagnosis level, and age (0-5 years).
• Outpatient costs showed significant associations with physician type, region, and African American race.

Conclusions:

• The cost of managing atopic dermatitis in Nevada is demonstrably influenced by a combination of demographic and clinical variables.
• Patient age, race, and specific clinical factors contribute to differential healthcare costs for AD.
• These findings highlight the need for tailored approaches to mitigate the economic impact of AD on affected individuals in Nevada.