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Surveys report US adults with eczema face increased health care burdens
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Adults in the United States with eczema experience higher out-of-pocket health costs and increased lost work days and health care utilization with limited access to care compared with the general population, according to recently published study results.
Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, studied data from the U.S. population-based 2010 and 2012 National Health Survey (NHIS) questionnaires of 27,157 (2010) and 34,613 adults (2012). Out-of-pocket costs, lost workdays, days in bed and access to care for adults with eczema were the study’s primary outcomes.
Jonathan I. Silverberg
There was a 10.2% prevalence of eczema in adults (95% CI, 9.7%-10.9%) in the 2010 survey results, with 7% having eczema alone and 3.2% having eczema with asthma and/or hay fever (EAH). A 7.2% prevalence rate of eczema in adults was reported in the 2012 survey (95% CI, 6.9%-7.6%), with 3.7% having eczema alone and 3.5% having EAH.
Silverberg reported a $371 and $489 per person-year higher out-of-pocket cost for adults with eczema compared with those without the disease from the 2010 and 2012 surveys, respectively, with higher odds of increased out-of-pocket costs.
Compared with adults without eczema, those with eczema were significantly more likely to experience at least 6 lost workdays from all causes (OR=1.53; 95% CI, 1.26-1.84). Those with eczema were also more likely to have 1 to 2 half-days (OR=1.31; 95% CI, 1.14-1.51); 3 to 5 half-days (OR=1.84; 95% CI, 1.54-2.20), and at least 6 half-days (OR=2.24; 95% CI, 1.92-2.62) in bed, according to Silverberg. There were also increased physician visits, urgent or emergency care visits and hospitalization compared with those without eczema.
Adults with eczema reported limited access to care and being unable to afford prescription medications (OR=2.36; 95% CI, 1.92-2.81), delays in getting an appointment (OR=2.04; 95% CI, 1.73-2.41), waiting too long to see a physician (OR=1.59; 95% CI, 1.28-1.97), delayed care (OR=1.73; 95% CI, 1.49-2.01) and the inability to get care because of worry about related costs (OR=1.66; 95% CI, 1.40-1.97). – by Bruce Thiel
Disclosure: Silverberg reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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