Patients with hypogonadism have increased health care costs

[Nelson Vergel]

This retrospective study from a commercial US health plan describes a population of more than 5,000 men with newly diagnosed primary or secondary hypogonadism. We found that patients with primary and secondary hypogonadism had increased health care utilization and cost during the year after their diagnosis compared with matched controls without diagnosed hypogonadism but with a similar baseline comorbidity burden.

These results are consistent with those of a previous study using retrospective data, also in the United States, but from a different source.11 Kaltenboeck et al11 examined a prevalent, rather than incident, hypogonadism cohort (including primary, secondary, and age-related etiologies) and used risk adjustment rather than direct matching to estimate control group costs. Annual risk-adjusted all-cause direct costs in that study were $9,291 for hypogonadism (any type) vs $5,248 for non-hypogonadism controls.

Further research is necessary to determine how primary and secondary hypogonadism contributes to increased health care costs over time. The constellation of symptoms observed in patients with hypogonadism—decreased energy, loss of muscle, depressed mood, fractures, and frailty—can lead to physical inactivity and aggravate the attendant risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study was limited to 1 year of follow-up after hypogonadism diagnosis, so a full picture of the economic burden of hypogonadism might require longer observation. More research also is needed to investigate the potential benefit of TRT in mitigating the burden of hypogonadism.

http://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(16)30483-0/fulltext

 

[johndoesmith]

Hey Nelson, either you made a typo with the title, or I am massively misunderstanding this study.

It seems as if the study is suggesting that people with newly diagnosed and treated hypogonadism have an increased usage of healthcare in the year following their diagnosis compared to those without newly diagnosed hypogonadism.

It strikes me as rather obvious, that one with a newly diagnosed medical condition would use more healthcare.

[FONT=&quot] Outpatient visits and pharmacy costs were the largest contributors to total cost and to cost increases. Approximately 15% of total costs, primarily outpatient and pharmacy costs, were identifiable as related to hypogonadism

The study even explains that the money is mostly at out patient doctor's visits and pharmacies. Duh!

I must be missing something huge here haha. [/FONT]

 

[Vince Carter]

Before I was being treated I had a pretty good medical record of complaining about this/that/the other, I kept saying to my MD "me wellness is terrible", just so nonspecific all I could say is I don't fell "well" I agree that untreated was having me in the Drs office much more than I am now.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Hey Nelson, either you made a typo with the title, or I am massively misunderstanding this study.

It seems as if the study is suggesting that people with newly diagnosed and treated hypogonadism have an increased usage of healthcare in the year following their diagnosis compared to those without newly diagnosed hypogonadism.

It strikes me as rather obvious, that one with a newly diagnosed medical condition would use more healthcare.



The study even explains that the money is mostly at out patient doctor's visits and pharmacies. Duh!

I must be missing something huge here haha. [/FONT][/COLOR]

You are right!

 

[johndoesmith]

You are right!

lol might be a dumb question, but I'm right that you made a mistake or that I am misunderstanding this?

Also your mailbox on EM is full.

 

[CoastWatcher]

lol might be a dumb question, but I'm right that you made a mistake or that I am misunderstanding this?

Also your mailbox on EM is full.

I believe you were correct. He edited the header/title to reflect a more nuanced understanding.

 

[johndoesmith]

I believe you were correct. He edited the header/title to reflect a more nuanced understanding.

Thanks man. It's hard to understand exact meaning of language in a text only format sometimes haha.