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. 2011 Jan;33(2):251-60.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04513.x. Epub 2010 Nov 22.

Longitudinal direct medical costs associated with constipation in women

R S Choung  1 , M E Branda, D Chitkara, N D Shah, S K Katusic, G R Locke 3rd, N J Talley
Affiliations

Longitudinal direct medical costs associated with constipation in women

R S Choung et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Although direct medical costs for constipation-related medical visits are thought to be high, to date, there have been no studies examining longitudinal resource utilisation in adults with constipation.

Aim: To estimate the incremental direct medical costs associated with constipation in women.

Methods: This is a nested case-control study. The study population consisted of all mothers of 5718 children in the population-based birth cohort born during 1976-1982 in a community. The cases presented to the medical facilities with constipation. The controls were randomly selected and matched to cases in a 2:1 ratio. Direct medical costs for constipated women and controls were collected for the years 1987-2002.

Results: We identified 168 women with a diagnosis of constipation. The total direct medical costs over the 15-year period for constipated subjects were more than double those of controls [$63 591 (95% CI: 49 786-81 396) vs. $24 529 (95% CI: 20 667-29 260)]. The overall out-patient costs for constipated women were $38 897 (95% CI: 31 381-48 253) compared to $15 110 (95% CI: 12 904-17 781) for controls. The median of annual out-patient visits for constipated women was 0.16 compared to 0.11 for controls.

Conclusion: Women with constipation have significantly higher medical care utilisation and expenditures compared with women without constipation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: No conflict of interest to disclose for all authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean observed annual total costs for women with constipation versus controls according to year.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean observed annual outpatient costs of women with constipation versus controls
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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