Abstract | April 9, 2023

United States Healthcare Burden and Patient Distribution of Inpatient Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Infections During 2016-2020

Madeline Holbrook, BS,BA

M. Nekel Holbrook, BS, BA, MS3, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; Alexis Lorio, BS, MS3, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.

Learning Objectives

  1. Establish the costs of SSTI on the national healthcare system and evaluate how these costs are distributed among income groups.

Background: Skin and subcutaneous tissue infection (SSTI) is a largely preventable disease that affects patients of all income levels, leading to substantial costs for hospitals and patients.

Methods: A quantitative analysis of inpatient data from 2016-2020 was performed using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Patients hospitalized for SSTIs were evaluated for demographics, length of stay (LOS), hospital charges, and hospital costs. Patients were then organized by community-level income (low, middle, high) and re-analyzed. Statistical Z-testing was utilized for the analysis.

Results: A total of 2,542,399 discharges were recorded between the years 2016-2020 with SSTI as the primary diagnosis, with 45.3% female and mean age of 53.2 (±0.2) years old. The mean rate of SSTI discharges per 100,000 persons was 155.6 (±1.6), which decreased from 178.4 to 116.3 during the study period (p=0.00). The mean LOS was 4.08 days (±0.02). During the study period, the accumulated national bill was $81 billion. The mean hospital charges per patient were $32,056 (±329), increased during the study course from $28,897 to $36,754 (p=0.00) while mean hospital costs per patient were $7,910 (±55), increased from $7,321 to $9,123 (p=0.00). Patient community-level income data were available for 2,472,030 discharges. When categorized, mean SSTI discharges per 100,000 population for low, middle, and high income communities were 199.4 (±3.7), 149.5 (±2.0), and 107.0 (±3.1). LOS were 4.18 (±0.03), 4.06 (±0.02), and 3.98 (±0.04). Mean hospital charges were $31,325 (±424), $31,329 (±357), and $34,180 (±716) while mean costs were $7,550 (±68), $7,848 (±61), and $8,508 (±132). P-values comparing low and high community-level income findings were significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion: These data show that throughout the study period, the number of total discharges decreased, and low income groups had the largest ratio of community members affected. Average hospital charges, costs, and the difference between the two values increased; the same remained true when separated by community-level incomes. Among the income groups, patients from high income communities recorded the highest values in average hospital charges, costs, and the difference between the two values.

 

References

https://hcupnet.ahrq.gov/#setup




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