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Economic impact of urolithiasis in the United States
J Y Clark1, I M Thompson, S A Optenberg
1Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas 78234-6200, USA.
Purpose:
We determined the economic costs to individuals in 1993 for the evaluation and treatment of upper urinary tract calculi.
Materials And Methods:
Hospital discharge statistics, prevalence data for urolithiasis and the relative frequency of surgical treatments from Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services claims data were assessed.
Results:
The total charges for evaluation, hospitalization and treatment were estimated to be $1.23 billion per year. Professional charges for those who were hospitalized were estimated to be $183 million. Outpatient evaluation of urolithiasis was expected to cost $278 million. Indirect costs for lost wages were estimated to be $139 million.
Conclusions:
The total annual cost for urolithiasis in the United States is estimated to be $1.83 billion.