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PharmacoEconomics
Published in: PharmacoEconomics 10/2003

01-07-2003 | Original Research Article

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Impact on the Workplace

Authors: Dr Howard G. Birnbaum, Melissa Morley, Stephanie Leong, Paul Greenberg, Gene L. Colice

Published in: PharmacoEconomics | Issue 10/2003

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Abstract

Background: While there is some literature on the cost of specific respiratory infections, much of the existing research focuses only on direct medical treatment costs and does not take into consideration workplace burden due to disability and absenteeism.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) on the workplace, specifically regarding the economic burden from an employer’s perspective.
Design: Specific LRTI considered here were acute bronchitis, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. Data from medical, prescription drug and disability claims of a large, national company in the US were used. These data provide information on both the healthcare and work loss impacts of LRTI on this major self-insured employer. The annual per capita expenditures for persons with LRTI were determined for beneficiaries (including employees and dependants) of this employer by analysing all claims in 1997. Results were compared with those of a 10% random sample of beneficiaries in the employer’s overall beneficiary population.
Results: In 1997, total per person expenditures and total medical service utilisation were higher among beneficiaries with LRTI than among beneficiaries in the overall beneficiary population sample. Annual per capita employer expenditures for beneficiaries with LRTI totalled $US6116, compared with $US2368 (1997 values) for the average beneficiary in the overall beneficiary population sample. Employer payments for lost work time through disability and absenteeism accounted for 17% of these expenditures amongst beneficiaries with LRTI and for 35% amongst employees with LRTI.
Conclusions: Annual per capita expenditures for beneficiaries with LRTI were almost three times that of the average beneficiary. We conclude that it is important to consider work loss in analyses of the cost of LRTI.
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Metadata
Title
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Impact on the Workplace
Authors
Dr Howard G. Birnbaum
Melissa Morley
Stephanie Leong
Paul Greenberg
Gene L. Colice
Publication date
01-07-2003
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
PharmacoEconomics / Issue 10/2003
Print ISSN: 1170-7690
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2027
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-200321100-00006

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